THE EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I AND GROWTH-HORMONE ON BODY-COMPOSITION IN ELDERLY WOMEN

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of recombinant human GH (rhGH; 0.025 mg/kg . day) and one of two doses of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I; 0.015 and 0.060 mg/kg, t wice daily) on body composition in elderly women. Sixteen healthy elde rly women (mean age +/- SEM, 71.9 +/- 1.3 yr) were randomly assigned t o receive either rhGH (GH; n = 5), low dose rhIGF-I (n = 6), or high d ose rhIGF-I (n = 5). A a-week predrug baseline period was followed by 4 weeks of hormone treatment, with a standardized diet fed throughout. All groups experienced a significant increase in serum IGF-I and IGFB P-3 levels over the treatment period, accompanied by significant decre ases in IGF-II (P < 0.05). Fat mass decreased in all groups, with sign ificant increases in lean body mass and nitrogen retention occurring i n the high dose IGF and GH groups. Total body water did not change, wh ereas increases observed in intracellular fluid approached significanc e (P = 0.06). These anabolic changes were accompanied by numerous nega tive side-effects in the GH and high dose IGF groups, including headac hes, lethargy, joint swelling/pain, and bloatedness. The low IGF dose was well tolerated. These results demonstrate that the administration of rhGH and rhIGF-I for 4 weeks results in anabolic changes in body co mposition in elderly women.