BODY-COMPOSITION AND SPONTANEOUS GROWTH-HORMONE SECRETION IN NORMAL SHORT STATURE CHILDREN

This study was designed to compare the relationship of measured and es timated indices of adiposity with the spontaneous GH secretion (SGHS) in 37 normal short stature children. Fifteen of the 37 patients (10 ma les and 5 females) were pubertal, and 22 (17 males and 5 females) were prepubertal. AH patients underwent a review of their medical history, a physical exam, laboratory tests, and a nutritional assessment that included anthropometry and evaluation of body composition by bioelectr ic impedance. The percentage of body fat and body fat mass index were used as measured indices of adiposity. The weight for height ratio, bo dy mass index, and body mass index z-scores were calculated and used a s estimated indices of adiposity. Our results showed that SGHS is grea tly influenced by variations in adiposity in normal short stature chil dren, and measured indices of adiposity demonstrated the strongest neg ative correlation with SGHS. Gender differences were apparent in the d egree of adiposity that modified SGHS, and it appears that adiposity a ltered the amplitude of GH pulses in pubertal patients and the number of pulses in prepubertal children. These results suggest that interpre tation of SGHS must take into account body composition and gender in a ddition to pubertal status.