Source: Genomics  |  Posted 8 years ago

Growth hormone treatment combined with hormone replacement therapy, calcium and vitamin D appears to increase bone mineral content up to 14% in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

In a long term Swedish study, 80 osteoporotic postmenopausal women, aged between 50 and 70, who were using oestrogen therapy (HRT), were randomised to receive either recombinant human growth hormone (GH), 1.0 U or 2.5 U/day, subcutaneous, or placebo. Calcium (750 mg) and vitamin D (400 U) were given to all patients as well. The study was based at the Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden.

The first study arm was double-blinded and lasted for 18 months, when women in the placebo group stopped their daily injections. However, women in both GH dosage groups continued treatment for a total of three years and were then followed-up for five years.

Bone mineral density and bone mineral content were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. At the end of the first arm, the researchers found that total body bone mineral content was highest in the GH 2.5 U group. At 3 years, when GH was discontinued, total body and femoral neck bone mineral content had increased in both GH-treated groups, and differences were not significant.

At the fourth year of follow-up, total body boner mineral content had increased 5% and lumbar spine bone mineral content increased 14% among women who received GH 2.5 U, and compared with placebo. Femoral neck bone mineral density increased 5% and bone mineral content 13% for women taking GH 2.5 U compared with those taking GH 1.0 U.

At follow-up after five years no differences in bone mineral density or bone mineral content were seen between groups. Bone markers showed increased turnover. Three women in the GH 1.0 U group experienced fractures. Side effects were rare over the trial period, and none of the women taking part dropped out.

The clinicians concluded that there seems to be a delayed, extended, and dose-dependent effect of GH on bone. For these reasons, GH could be used as an anabolic agent in osteoporosis.