Effect of Growth Hormone on Total Cholesterol and Body Composition in Children with Non-Endocrine Short Stature, Partial Growth Hormone Deficiency and Growth Hormone Neurosecretory Dysfunction

Total cholesterol (TC) level and percent ideal body mass index (%BMI) for age and height were measured in children with non-endocrine short stature (NESS) (n=11), partial growth hormone deficiency (PGHD) (n=4) and growth hormone neurosecretory dysfunction (GHND) (n=5) every 3 months for 2 years to evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) therapy. These measurements and annual growth rates were compared among three groups: group A (children who remained prepubertal during the study); group B (children who started puberty in the second year); group C (children who started puberty in the first year). There was no significant change in %BMI during the study period in the three groups and no significant correlation between %BMI and height velocity or height standard deviation (SD) before treatment or height gain after treatment. TC levels remained unchanged in groups A and B. However, there were significant decreases in group C after treatment. These results showed that the GH therapy in NESS, PGHD and GHND children had no effect on cholesterol metabolism or body composition, and that the children's nutritional status did not affect their natural growth.