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Potential role for growth hormone in human lactation insufficiency
S R Milsom1, D L Rabone, A J Gunn
1Research Centre for Developmental Medicine and Biology, University of Auckland, New Zealand. s.milsom@auckland.ac.nz
In order to evaluate the galactopoietic response to rhGH in mothers of normal babies with idiopathic lactation insufficiency arising in the early postpartum period, we performed a preliminary, randomised, single blind trial of 3 different doses of hGH: either 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 IU/kg/day to a maximum of 16 IU/day, for 7 days. Total 24-hour milk production was determined in each mother 1 day prior to initiating therapy and on the last day of therapy. Milk production rose by 36.0 +/- 12.6% in the group receiving 0.2 IU/kg/day (n = 6) but by only 4.7 +/- 9.7%, (p < 0.04) in the combined lower dose group (n = 10). In conclusion, these data suggest that moderate dose hGH therapy in mothers with lactation insufficiency can improve galactopoiesis.
In order to evaluate the galactopoietic response to rhGH in mothers of normal babies with idiopathic lactation insufficiency arising in the early postpartum period, we performed a preliminary, randomised, single blind trial of 3 different doses of hGH: either 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 IU/kg/day to a maximum of 16 IU/day, for 7 days. Total 24-hour milk production was determined in each mother 1 day prior to initiating therapy and on the last day of therapy. Milk production rose by 36.0 +/- 12.6% in the group receiving 0.2 IU/kg/day (n = 6) but by only 4.7 +/- 9.7%, (p < 0.04) in the combined lower dose group (n = 10). In conclusion, these data suggest that moderate dose hGH therapy in mothers with lactation insufficiency can improve galactopoiesis.