Growth hormone can help post-menopausal women

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

According to a new study, women with metabolic issues past the menopause may be helped with growth hormone.
Previous work has shown how growth hormone, normally given to children, can decrease abdominal fat among men and increase their insulin sensitivity. Now a team in Sweden have shown similar effects among post-menopausal women.

They gave growth hormone to a group of postmenopausal women comparing it with placebo. They found that those in the active treatment group had reduced abdominal fat, a better cholesterol profile, and increased thigh muscle area. Metabolic syndrome is a problem often found linked with issues such as abdominal fat and an unfavorable lipid profile. It looks as if growth hormone can help with problems linked to metabolic imbalances in post-menopausal women. Doctors might want to look at growth hormone as a way of treating menopausal problems in women.

Source
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism March 2005

Please take a moment to give us your comments. For questions about Health matters you may check our "Questions & Answers" Portal and Service.