Relationship between the Stimulated Peak Growth Hormone Level and Metabolic Parameters in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between the stimulated peak growth hormone (PGH) level and comprehensive metabolic markers for glucose and lipid metabolism, and liver steatosis in prepubertal children with GH deficiency (GHD). Methods: Sixty-nine prepubertal children with GHD were divided into overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI]≥85th percentile) and normal BMI groups. The associations between PGH level and metabolic parameters including homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipid profiles, AST, and ALT were evaluated. Results: The LDL cholesterol level was significantly higher in the overweight/obesity group than in the normal BMI group. PGH level was negatively associated with the BMI SD score (SDS) (r=−0.26, P=0.029) and ALT (r=−0.36, P=0.004) levels, whereas it was positively associated with the HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) level (r=0.38, P=0.002). In multivariate analyses, PGH level was positively associated with HDL-C level (P=0.002) and negatively associated with ALT level (P=0.028) after adjusting for age, sex, BMI SDS, HOMA-IR, and TG level. Conclusion: PGH level in pre-pubertal children with GHD was positively and negatively associated with HDL-C and ALT, respectively, even if they were within normal range, regardless of BMI.