GROWTH-HORMONE TREATMENT DOES NOT ALTER BILIARY LIPID-METABOLISM IN HEALTHY ADULT MEN

GH is important for the hepatic low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor induction that occurs after estrogen treatment. GH treatment increase s liver LDL receptors and lowers plasma LDL cholesterol in man. Estrog en treatment enhances biliary secretion of cholesterol, resulting in s upersaturation of bile and an increased risk of gallstone formation. T he present study was undertaken to investigate whether GH treatment al so influences biliary lipid metabolism in humans. Twelve healthy male volunteers (mean age, 31 +/- 1 yr) were studied before and during the third week of treatment with recombinant human GH (0.1 IU/kg.day). Pla sma lipids, bile acid kinetics, and biliary lipid composition were mon itored. Plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by 10% in response to therapy. However, no significant changes were observed in the biliary Lipid composition or cholesterol saturation of gallbladde r bile. Furthermore, there were no changes in chenodeoxycholic acid or cholic acid kinetics. The reduction of plasma LDL cholesterol in resp onse to GH treatment in healthy adult men is not associated with detec table changes in biliary lipid metabolism. Thus, in contrast to estrog en, GH therapy of adults probably does not result in an increased risk of cholesterol gallstone development.