Is growth hormone important in adults?
Yes. Growth hormone (GH) does more than stimulate growth in children. In adults, GH affects all aspects of metabolism (body energy) and body composition (fat mass, muscle mass, bone density). Growth hormone deficient adults may have increased body fat and decreased body muscle. Bone density may also be lower in adults who are GH deficient. In addition to physical features of GH deficiency in adults, some patients experience symptoms of fatigue, loss of energy and social isolation. Growth hormone replacement is relatively recent; it has been used in Europe for approximately 17 years and in the U.S. since 1996. Studies of GH replacement have shown that muscle mass increases, fat mass decreases, and after 18 months, bone mass increases; weight does not change (GH is not a weight loss hormone). Growth hormone caused a greater reduction in fat within the abdomen (visceral fat) as compared to other areas and this is believed important because increased visceral fat is associated with a highe
