Work

Effects of Growth Hormone (GH) Deficiency and GH Replacement Therapy on Health-Related Physical Fitness in Children

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: CONTEXT: The effects of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and GH replacement therapy (GHRT) on health-related physical fitness are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to characterize the effects of GHD and GHRT on health-related physical fitness in children. METHODS: We enrolled 49 GHD children (aged 10.7 ± 1.9 years) and 46 controls (aged 11.8 ± 2.3 years). Both groups underwent baseline assessment of body composition, muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin-like growth factor-1, metabolic equivalents (METs-min/wk), sitting time, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). These parameters were reevaluated in GHD patients after 1-year GHRT. RESULTS: Compared to controls, GHD patients exhibited higher sitting time (3603.5 ± 1334.8 min/wk vs 3011.6 ± 1215.3 min/wk; P = .03), and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) (0.50 ± 0.07 vs 0.45 ± 0.06; P = .001), reduced muscle strength (squat jump 13.88 ± 4.0 vs 15.7 ± 4.2 cm; P = .04; long jump 114.6 ± 25.8 vs 126.2 ± 29.6 cm; P = .04; counter-movement jump 13.7 ± 3.9 vs 16.4 ± 4.7 cm; P = .002), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) (501.1 ± 69.3 vs 535.3 ± 65.6 m; P = .03), and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (29.7 ± 4.7 vs 31.9 ± 4.6 mL/kg/min; P = .02). One-year GHRT led to reduced sitting time (3107.5 ± 1370.9 min/wk; P = .03), WtHR (0.45 ± 0.06; P = .02) and fat mass percentage (27.4 ± 5.4 vs 23.7 ± 5.8; P < .0001), increased METs-min/wk (2174.5 ± 1737.9 vs 2788.1 ± 2395.0; P = .05), fat-free mass (22.1 ± 7.6 vs 27.9 ± 9.4 kg; P < .0001), handgrip strength (11.1 ± 3.6 vs 15.4 ± 4.9 kg; P = .0001) squat jump (16.6 ± 4.7 cm; P = .01), long jump (129.6 ± 25.2 cm; P < .0001), countermovement jump (16.0 ± 4.3 cm; P = .003), 6MWD (540.5 ± 88.5 m; P = .01), VO2max (31.8 ± 5.1 mL/kg/min, P = .02), and physical (76.76 ± 16.42 vs 84.61 ± 11.63; P < .007) and psychosocial HRQoL scores (75.61 ± 15.12 vs 80.91 ± 11.12; P < .05). CONCLUSION: GHRT exerts broad beneficial effects on health-related physical fitness and HRQoL in children with GHD.

Source: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaf676

Authors: Nicola Improda, Giada Ballarin, Donatella Capalbo, Fabiana Santamaria, Giuliana Valerio, Luca Scalfi, Mariacarolina Salerno

Institutions: Federico II University Hospital, Santobono Children's Hospital, University of Naples Federico II, Parthenope University of Naples

Language: English

Topic: Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors

Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750