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Published on: January 7, 2016

Metabolic impact of growth hormone treatment in short children born small for gestational age

Jan Lebl1, Yael Lebenthal, Stanislava Kolouskova

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

Hormone Research in Paediatrics
|September 7, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone (GH) therapy in short small for gestational age (SGA) children reduced ghrelin and leptin. This suggests GH may improve long-term metabolic health by influencing appetite and body composition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Research
  • Growth Hormone Therapy

Background:

  • Short children born small for gestational age (SGA) may experience metabolic changes with growth hormone (GH) treatment.
  • Potential long-term metabolic effects require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the metabolic effects of different doses and durations of GH therapy in short SGA children.
  • To assess changes in key metabolic hormones and markers.

Main Methods:

  • 149 short SGA children were randomized to low, mid, or high-dose GH therapy for 1 or 2 years.
  • Leptin, ghrelin, IGF-I, IGFBP-1, lipids, glucose, and insulin were measured at baseline and 12/24 months.

Main Results:

  • GH treatment significantly reduced ghrelin and leptin levels after 1 year.
  • Insulin levels increased, while IGF-I SDS and IGFBP-1 decreased.
  • Ghrelin showed an inverse correlation with IGF-I SDS.

Conclusions:

  • GH treatment in short SGA children may reduce ghrelin and leptin via the GH-IGF-I axis.
  • This hormonal modulation could impact food intake and body composition.
  • GH therapy holds potential for improving long-term metabolic outcomes in this population.
Abstract

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