Effects of growth hormone replacement on cortisol metabolism in hypopituitary patients treated with cortisone acetate.

What Was Tested

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

Growth hormone (GH) replacement may inhibit 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11betaHSD1) activity, resulting in diminished conversion of cortisone to cortisol.

Moreover, GH replacement may lower bioavailability of hydrocortisone tablets.

Who Took Part

The abstract describes 12 women taking part.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

Eight patients were randomized to placebo initially.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized and placebo-controlled.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Some women received a placebo instead of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over), giving a reference point.

At baseline, after 6 and 12 months, urinary cortisol and cortisone metabolites were measured.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1, Cortisone, Human Growth Hormone, Hydrocortisone, Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases, Hypopituitarism and Water.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of Exogenous HGH, sermorelin & older GHRPs (why they're passed over) in 12 women.

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 2001 (Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation), a journal based in England.

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