Effects of growth hormone replacement therapy on lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins: Is the increased apolipoprotein A-1/B ratio the only benefit?

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the controversial role of growth hormone (GH) therapy in lipid regulation. Methods: We studied serum levels of cholesterol and subgroups, triglyceride and apolipoprotein A-1 and B in 41 GH-deficient children (with subgroups of untreated and short- and long-term treated subjects) and 20 healthy controls. Results: Cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (in mmol/L) were found to be 4.92~1.34 and 3.02~1.58 in untreated, 4.15~0.72 and 2.46~0.65 in short-term (3 month) treated, 4.93~1.39 and 3.15~1.38 in long-term (> 1 year) treated and 4.11~0.5 and 2.0~0.74 in control subjects, respectively. The apolipoprotein A-1:B ratio was 1.98~0.5 in long-term treated and 1.6~0.6 in control subjects. Conclusions: The improvement of lipid composition with short-term GH therapy is temporary, but the increase in apo A-1:B is not and seems to be the particular benefit of this therapy.