Liver fat in adults with GH deficiency: Comparison to matched controls and the effect of GH replacement

Fabian Meienberg*, Michael Yee, Desmond Johnston, Jeremy Cox, Stephen Robinson, Jimmy D. Bell, E. Louise Thomas, Simon D. Taylor-Robinson, Ian Godsland

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Context Existing data regarding the association between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and liver fat content are conflicting. Objective We aimed (i) to assess intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL) content in hypopituitary adults with GHD compared to matched controls and (ii) to evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) replacement on IHCL content. Design Cross-sectional comparison and controlled intervention study. Patients, Participants Cross-sectional comparison: Twenty-two hypopituitary adults with GHD and 44 healthy controls matched for age, BMI, gender and ethnicity. Intervention study: nine GHD patients starting GH replacement (GH Rx group) and nine GHD patients not starting replacement therapy (non-GH Rx group). Intervention Intervention study: GH replacement for 6 months in the GH Rx group, dosage was titrated to achieve normal IGF-1 levels. Main Outcome Measures HCL content determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS). Results Cross-sectional Comparison: There was no difference in IHCL content between GHD patients and healthy controls (1·89% (0·30, 4·03) vs 1·14% (0·22, 2·32); P = 0·2), and the prevalence of patients with hepatic steatosis (IHCL of ≥ 5·56%) was similar in the two groups (22·7% vs 15·9%; chi-square probability = 0·4). Intervention study: The change in IHCL content over 6 months did not differ between the GH Rx group and the non-GH Rx group (-0·63 ± 4·53% vs + 0·11 ± 1·46%; P = 0·6). Conclusions In our study, liver fat content and the prevalence of hepatic steatosis did not differ between hypopituitary adults with GHD and matched controls. In GHD patients, GH replacement had no effect on liver fat content.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)76-84
Number of pages9
JournalClinical Endocrinology
Volume85
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2016
Externally publishedYes

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