The influence of gender on the short and long‐term effects of growth hormone replacement on bone metabolism and bone mineral density in hypopituitary adults: a 5‐year study

Abstract

This study demonstrates an earlier onset of GH activation of bone remodelling as reflected by S-BAP in females compared to males and confirms that long-term GH treatment in hypopituitary adults with GH deficiency increases or preserves BMD both at lumbar spine and femoral neck. However male patients seem to derive the greater benefits in BMD from long-term GH replacement; in females BMD appears simply to be stabilized rather than increased. This constitutes a genuine gender difference in susceptibility given that serum IGF-I was in the upper part of the reference range in all subjects.