The Effect of Growth Hormone Administration on Lipids and Lipoproteins in Growth Hormone-Deficient Patients

Abstract

Abstract

Plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and lipoprotein cholesterol levels were studied in a group (n = 8) of prepubertal growth hormone-deficient patients before and after growth hormone (GH) administration. Determination of plasma lipoproteins by a sensitive agarose gel electrophoretic technique demonstrated: (a) in the patients with two prebeta bands an intensification of the fast prebeta lipoprotein fraction after growth hormone administration; and (b) in the patients with one prebeta band the appearance of a second prebeta band after growth hormone administration. The mean (±SD) plasma triglyceride level before GH was 86 ± 60 mg/dl and 158 ± 95 mg/dl after GH (P < 0.01). Mean (±SD) plasma cholesterol level before GH was 196 ± 25 mg/dl and 174 ± 28 mg/dl after GH (P < 0.05). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.001) from mean (±SD) 55 ± 12 mg/dl before GH to 37 ± 10 mg/dl after GH. Very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) from mean (±SD) 13 ± 12 mg/dl before GH to 23 ± 15 mg/dl after GH. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations decreased (N.S.) from mean (±SD) 123 ± 15 mg/dl before GH to 114 ± 15 mg/dl after GH. These lipid and lipoprotein changes could be mediated through the insulin antagonism, hyperinsulinemia, and a decrease in lipoprotein lipase activity caused by growth hormone.