Effect of recombinant human growth hormone plus vitamin D on development and lipid metabolism in children with growth hormone deficiency

Abstract

ABSTRACT The combination of rhGH and vitamin D has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach for children with GHD. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of recombinant human growth hormone plus vitamin D on development and lipid metabolism in children with growth hormone deficiency. A total of 198 children treated in our hospital from December 2011 to December 2021 were recruited. The study assessed development-related indices, lipid metabolism indices, growth factor indices, thyroid indices, and adverse reactions. After treatment, the development-related indices of children in both groups improved (P < 0.05), but the experimental group showed significantly better HtSDS and annual height growth rate (P < 0.05). Moreover, the experimental group had lower levels of TG, T-CHO, and LDL-C versus the observation group (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in HDL-C levels between the two groups before and after treatment (P > 0.05). Moreover, patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone plus vitamin D had significantly higher IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels than those receiving recombinant human growth hormone alone (P < 0.05). The T3, T4, and TSH levels of children in both groups increased after treatment (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that recombinant human growth hormone plus vitamin D effectively improves the development and lipid metabolism of children with growth hormone deficiency. Additionally, it increases growth factor levels without compromising thyroid function or increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions.