Abstracted by: Mayim Chaya Bialik, Ph.D

Growth Hormone Improves Mobility and Body Composition in Infants and Toddlers with Prader-Willi Syndrome

Carrel et al., J Pediatrics Cli Dec 2004

The administration of growth hormone (GH) leads to many benefits for individuals with PWS including a decline in the fat percentage of lean body mass, and improvement in body composition, agility, and muscle strength. However, the effects of GH administration in infants and toddlers have not been fully explored. In this paper, Carrel and colleagues examined the effects of GH administration on 29 infants and toddlers between the ages of 4 and 37 months. Percent body fat was measured at the start of the experiment and after 12 months of GH treatment. Motor ability and stability were measured at the start of the experiment, at 6 months after GH treatment, and after 12 months as well.

After 12 months of GH administration, height increased significantly, as did growth velocity. Body fat decreased significantly after GH treatment, and motor ability also improved greatly. There was no effect of GH treatment on stability measurements. In addition, total cholesterol decreased in those receiving GH treatment, and there were no adverse effects in the group receiving GH.

This is the first controlled study addressing this issue and was very successful in demonstrating that the benefits of GH that are reported in older individuals with PWS also exist in infants and toddlers.

edited: 03/23/2010