Effect of recombinant human growth hormone on regional tissue distribution in growth hormone-deficient males

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to analyze the regional tissue distribution of bone mineral mass (BMM), fat mass (FM), and lean tissue mass (LTM) in the arms, trunk, and legs of 23 male growth hormone-deficient (GHD) males. Patients were assigned randomly to treatment (n = 11) and control (n = 12) groups. During the first six months, the treatment group received recombinant growth hormone (rhGH) and the control group placebo. During the second six months, both groups received rhGH. Following treatment there was a trend for BMM to be lost in the arms and legs, with gains at the trunk. Fat mass was lost mainly from the trunk. Proportionally more LTM was distributed to the arms and legs than to the trunk. Treatment was more effective in the first six months than the second. The correlation between the waist-hip ratio and trunk fat was poor, suggesting that its use in patients with GHD may be misleading.