Abstract
Background and objectivesSmall for gestational age (SGA) children are at increased risk of metabolic syndrome. Our objective is to evaluate changes in body composition produced by growth hormone (GH) treatment. Patients and methodA group of 28 SGA children without catch-up growth and undergoing treatment with GH was selected for evaluation. Over the course of 3 years from the beginning of the treatment with GH, the children's body composition variables (bone mineral density [BMD], fat and lean body mass proportion) were evaluated annually with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A study of correlation between metabolic and body composition variables was also made. ResultsTreatment with GH produces a reduction in fat mass proportion in relation to lean body mass, decreasing from 25.94±6.09% to 22.88±5.38% (P=.034). In the abdominal regions we observe an increase in lean mass, from 1356.91±426.71 to 2570.96±814.36g (P=.000) and a tendency for visceral fat deposits to decrease. BMD in lumbar vertebrae improved from −1.55±0.68 to −0.90±0.79Z (P=.019). ConclusionsTreatment with GH produces changes in body composition, improving BMD and increasing the proportion of lean body mass with a reduction in fat mass. If these changes persisted into adulthood, they may cause a reduction in the metabolic and cardiovascular risk in this group of patients.
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