Metabolic parameters and adipokine profile in growth hormone deficient (GHD) children before and after 12 month GH treatment.

It is a common knowledge that GH exhibits a large number of metabolic effects, involving lipid and glucose homeostasis. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of one year GH therapy on metabolic parameters and adipokines in GH deficient (GHD) children. Sixteen prepubertal children (11M and 5F) with complete GHD (age range: 3.4-14.7 years) and 20 (13M and 7F) age and sex-matched healthy children (age range: 4.6-12.3 years) were studied. Blood was collected from patients before starting GH therapy (0.025mg/kg/day) and one year later, and from healthy children to measure adiponectin, leptin, osteoprotegerin, resistin, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- levels, and other glucose and lipid metabolism parameters. Adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly higher (49980ng/ml vs. 14790ng/ml and 11.0pg/ml vs. 6.3, respectively) in GHD children before GH therapy than in controls. Serum IGF-I levels (p=0.0001) and height SDS (p