EFFECT OF GROWTH-HORMONE ADMINISTRATION ON THE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITIONOF ADIPOSE-TISSUE IN GROWTH-HORMONE-DEFICIENT MEN

In adult patients with growth hormone deficiency, the fatty acid compo sition of abdominal and gluteal fat tissues was determined prior to an d at several time points after administration of recombinant human gro wth hormone. Values obtained before growth hormone treatment were not different from those seen in a normal population. However, as in healt hy individuals, significant differences were found in the composition of the fat sampled at the different sites. Administration of growth ho rmone had no effect on the composition. It is concluded that a change in fatty acid composition of fat tissue is unlikely to be a factor con tributing to the reported increased cardiovascular mortality in hypopi tuitarism and that treatment with recombinant human growth hormone has no effect on that potential cardiovascular risk factor.