A paradoxical gender dissociation within the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor I axis during protracted critical illness

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in this clinical trial publication.

Female gender appears to protect against adverse outcome from prolonged critical illness, a condition characterized by blunted and disorderly GH secretion and impaired anabolism.

As a sexual dimorphism in the GH secretory pattern of healthy humans and rodents determines gender differences in metabolism, the researchers here compared GH secretion and responsiveness to GH secretagogues in male and female protracted critically ill patients.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 9 patients were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

Serum concentrations of PRL, TSH, cortisol, and sex steroids were measured concomitantly.

What Was Measured

Female gender appears to protect against adverse outcome from prolonged critical illness, a condition characterized by blunted and disorderly GH secretion and impaired anabolism.

Serum levels of GH-binding protein, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), and PRL were compared with those of 50 male and 50 female community-living control subjects matched for age and body mass index.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Carrier Proteins, Critical Illness, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Glycoproteins, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Human Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins.

What This Means in Plain Language

This is a clinical trial of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in 9 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2000 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) compound page, all human trials.