Abstract

In subjects with abdominal obesity, Growth hormone (GH) secretion is reduced with altered cardiovascular risk factors leading to metabolic syndrome. Treatment with GH in males with abdominal obesity showed improved metabolic functions, similar data in females is lacking. Aims: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of GH treatment on reducing the abdominal visceral fat in post-menopausal females having abdominal obesity and to evaluate its effects on glucose tolerance and visceral fat mass. Materials and Methods: 38 post-menopausal females were randomly divided into two groups where 1 group received placebo therapy and for other group growth hormone therapy was given. Assessment of body parameters, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity was carried out at baseline (treatment start), 6 months, and 12 months after therapy, and results were formed. Results: The serum levels of IGF-1 increased for group II from 101±6.8 at baseline to 211±15.8 (p˂0.001) at 6 months, whereas for group I non-significant change was seen from 121±4.8 to 119±5.8g/L, whereas from 6 to 12 months no statistically significant difference was seen in both the groups. In group II, at 6 months, HDL cholesterol and total triglycerides increased following GH treatment. Visceral adipose tissue decreased in Group II after GH treatment significantly from 177.0±8.5 to 170.4±9.8, whereas an increase was seen in Group I from 161.1±7.7 to 172.0±8.7 (p=0.002). Conclusion: The present study concludes that growth hormone therapy is beneficial in postmenopausal subjects with abdominal obesity resulting in improved insulin sensitivity, decreased hepatic fat levels, and other metabolic syndrome features.

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