In @entity2338 adults, rhGH has pronounced effects on total body water, fat free mass, and fat mass. Recently, we observed a gender difference in @entity442 responsivity to rhGH that was sex @entity134 dependent. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of rhGH therapy on body composition parameters with due attention to the gender differences in biological responsiveness to rhGH. Forty-four @entity1 [36.9 +/- 11.9 yr (mean +/- SD)] and 33 @entity1 (37.2 +/- 13.8 yr) with @entity2338 were studied every 6 months during 2 yr. The treatment goal was to achieve @entity442 levels within the age-adjusted normal range. Total body water, fat free mass, and fat mass were measured by bioimpedantiometry. To reach the treatment goal, the daily rhGH dose (IU/kg/d) had to be significantly higher in @entity1 than in @entity1 at all time intervals. During rhGH therapy, total body water and fat free mass increased significantly in both @entity1 and @entity1 (P < or = 0.01 by ANOVA), but changes were more pronounced in @entity1 . Fat mass decreased during rhGH treatment and reached its nadir at 6 months, which was more pronounced in @entity1 than in @entity1 (P = 0.02 by ANOVA). After the initial decrease, fat mass increased again and reached baseline values after 2 yr of treatment. In both @entity1 and @entity1 , the total body water and fat free mass increases were closely related to the @entity442 increments (P < 0.001 by Pearson's correlation test). The decrease in fat mass correlated significantly with the increase in @entity442 in @entity1 (r = -0.89, P < 0.001), not in @entity1 . Confirming our earlier data, @entity442 responsivity to rhGH was significantly higher in @entity1 than in @entity1 at all time intervals (P < 0.01 by ANOVA). Total body water and fat free mass responsivities were also higher in @entity1 than in @entity1 (P < 0.01 by ANOVA). In conclusion, gender differences in @entity442 responsivities to rhGH are accompanied by gender differences in the extent of body composition changes to rhGH. Probably because of these gender differences in @entity442 responsivity, the increases of total body water and fat free mass to rhGH replacement were greater in @entity1 than in @entity1 . Remarkably, however, in @entity1 , only total body water and fat free mass responses relative to changes in @entity442 increased during the 2 yr of rhGH therapy (P = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively, by ANOVA). In our opinion, this phenomenon might be explained by the increasing target organ sensitivity to @entity442 over time.

Gender differences in rhGH-induced changes in body composition in XXXX adults.

@entity134 :: ('CHEBI:35341', 'Chemical') :: ['steroid'] @entity2338 :: ('MESH:D004393', 'Disease') :: ['GH-deficient', 'GH deficiency'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'men'] @entity442 :: ('3479', 'Gene') :: ['IGF-I']
@entity2338 :: (MESH:D004393,Disease) :: ['GH-deficient']
