HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by van der Lely, A J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by van der Lely, A J

Justified and unjustified use of growth hormone

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr A J van der Lely
Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, 40 Dr Molewaterplein, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands; a.vanderlelij{at}erasmusmc.nl

Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy for children and adults with proven GH deficiency due to a pituitary disorder has become an accepted therapy with proven efficacy. GH is increasingly suggested, however, as a potential treatment for frailty, osteoporosis, morbid obesity, cardiac failure, and various catabolic conditions. However, the available placebo controlled studies have not reported many significant beneficial effects, and it might even be dangerous to use excessive GH dosages in conditions in which the body has just decided to decrease GH actions. GH can indeed induce changes in body composition that are considered to be advantageous to GH deficient and non-GH deficient subjects. In contrast to GH replacement therapy in GH deficient subjects, however, excessive GH action due to GH misuse seems to be ineffective in improving muscle power. Moreover, there are no available study data to indicate that the use of GH for non-GH deficient subjects should be advocated, especially as animal data suggest that lower GH levels are positively correlated with longevity.

Abbreviations: GH, growth hormone; IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor-1; IGFBP, insulin-like growth factor binding protein

Keywords: drug abuse; growth hormone; somatropin

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. E. Berryman, E. O. List, D. T. Kohn, K. T. Coschigano, R. J. Seeley, and J. J. Kopchick Effect of Growth Hormone on Susceptibility to Diet-Induced Obesity Endocrinology, June 1, 2006; 147(6): 2801 - 2808. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Bondanelli, M. R. Ambrosio, M. C. Zatelli, L. De Marinis, and E. C d. Uberti Hypopituitarism after traumatic brain injury Eur. J. Endocrinol., May 1, 2005; 152(5): 679 - 691. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]