Chikani V, Cuneo RC, Hickman I, Ho KKY. GH enhances anaerobic capacity: Impact on physical function and quality of life in adults with GH deficiency. Clinical Endocrinology. GH enhances anaerobic capacity: Impact on physical function and quality of life in adults with GH deficiency - Chikani - 2016 - Clinical Endocrinology - Wiley Online Library
Context: Anaerobic capacity is impaired in adults with GH deficiency (GHD), adversely affecting physical function and quality of life (QoL).
Objective: To investigate whether GH replacement improves anaerobic capacity, physical function and QoL in adults with GHD.
Design: 1-month double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of GH (0.5 mg/day), followed by a 6-month open phase. Patients: 18 adults with GHD.
Measurements: Anaerobic power (watts) was assessed by the 30-second Wingate test, and aerobic capacity by the VO2max (L/min) test. Physical functional was assessed by the stair-climb test, chair-stand test, and 7-day pedometry, and QoL by the AGHDA questionnaire. Lean body mass (LBM) was quantified by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
Results: GH replacement normalized IGF1 levels during both study phases. During the 1-month placebo-controlled study, improvement in stair climb and chair stand performance were observed during GH and placebo treatment, however, there were no significant GH effects observed in any outcome measure compared to placebo.
Six months of GH treatment significantly increased anaerobic power (p<0.05), chair-stand repetitions (p<0.0001), daily step count (p<0.05), and QoL scores (p<0.001) compared to baseline measurements. GH treatment did not significantly improve VO2max. Improvement in anaerobic power independently predicted an improvement in energy and vitality domain of QoL (p=0.03).
Conclusions: GH replacement improves anaerobic capacity, physical function and QoL in a time-dependent manner in adults with GHD. Improvement in the anaerobic but not aerobic energy system is likely to underlie the improvement in QoL in patients with GHD during GH replacement.
Context: Anaerobic capacity is impaired in adults with GH deficiency (GHD), adversely affecting physical function and quality of life (QoL).
Objective: To investigate whether GH replacement improves anaerobic capacity, physical function and QoL in adults with GHD.
Design: 1-month double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of GH (0.5 mg/day), followed by a 6-month open phase. Patients: 18 adults with GHD.
Measurements: Anaerobic power (watts) was assessed by the 30-second Wingate test, and aerobic capacity by the VO2max (L/min) test. Physical functional was assessed by the stair-climb test, chair-stand test, and 7-day pedometry, and QoL by the AGHDA questionnaire. Lean body mass (LBM) was quantified by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
Results: GH replacement normalized IGF1 levels during both study phases. During the 1-month placebo-controlled study, improvement in stair climb and chair stand performance were observed during GH and placebo treatment, however, there were no significant GH effects observed in any outcome measure compared to placebo.
Six months of GH treatment significantly increased anaerobic power (p<0.05), chair-stand repetitions (p<0.0001), daily step count (p<0.05), and QoL scores (p<0.001) compared to baseline measurements. GH treatment did not significantly improve VO2max. Improvement in anaerobic power independently predicted an improvement in energy and vitality domain of QoL (p=0.03).
Conclusions: GH replacement improves anaerobic capacity, physical function and QoL in a time-dependent manner in adults with GHD. Improvement in the anaerobic but not aerobic energy system is likely to underlie the improvement in QoL in patients with GHD during GH replacement.
