EFFECT OF SHORT-TERM TREATMENT WITH RECOMBINANT HUMAN GROWTH-HORMONE ON LIPIDS AND LIPOPROTEINS IN WOMEN AND MEN WITHOUT GROWTH-HORMONE DISTURBANCES

The effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) on cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein (HDL and LDL) cholesterol, triglycer ides (TG), apolipoprotein (ape) B, apo A-I, and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] was studied in 40 postmenopausal women treated with 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 IU/kg/d rHGH or placebo for 7 days. Cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P = .001, P = . 001, and P = .003, respectively), whereas apo B decreased insignifican tly (P = .15). Apo A-I decreased significantly only among women treate d with rHGH at a dose of 0.1 IU/kg/d (P = .03). When all rHGH-treated women were grouped together, Lp(a) increased (P = .001). We also studi ed 20 young men treated with either 0.2 IU/kg/d rHGH or placebo. As in women, cholesterol and apo B decreased (P = .005 and P = .02, respect ively), whereas Lp(a) increased (P = .05). There was no detectable eff ect of rHGH on TG concentrations in men. As in women, there was no sig nificant effect of 0.2 IU/kg/d rHGH on apo A-I concentrations. All lip id and lipoprotein measures reached pretreatment levels during the fir st week after treatment was stopped. except Lp(a), which remained elev ated 2 weeks after rHGH cessation. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company