The associations between the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis, adiponectin, resistin and metabolic profile in children with growth hormone deficiency before and during growth hormone treatment

Abstract

The study investigated the associations between the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis, adiponectin, resistin and metabolic profile in 47 GH-deficient children before and during 12 months of GH treatment. 23 short age-matched children without growth hormone deficiency (GHD) or any genetic or chronic disorders were recruited as controls at baseline. Metabolic evaluation included measurements of adiponectin, resistin, IGF-1, total cholesterol (total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (free T4) concentrations. The GH-deficient children had significantly higher adiponectin (p<0.05) and total cholesterol (p<0.05) and significantly lower resistin (p<0.05) than the controls. Resistin at 6 months of GH treatment correlated significantly with changes in height SDSin that period (r=0.35) and with fasting insulin (r=0.50), the HOMA-IR (r=0.56) and the QUICKI (r= - 0.53) at 12 months of therapy. Adiponectin at 12 months of GH treatment was significantly associated with changes in HDL-C within the first 6 months (r=0.73) and also within 12 months (r=0.56) of therapy, while resistin correlated significantly with an increment in IGF-1 within 12 months of treatment (r=0.49) and with total-C at 12 months (r=0.56). Untreated GH-deficient children had higher adiponectin and lower resistin than healthy short children without GHD. Adiponectin and resistin did not change significantly during the first 12 months of GH therapy. Good responders to GH treatment had a tendency for higher resistin during GH therapy, which correlates positively with insulin resistance parameters.