A course of growth hormone can provide post-menopausal women with protection against osteoporosis for a period of years, according to the findings of a major Swedish study.
Researchers found that women seem to benefit from the treatment for a period of at least seven years – with rates of bone fracture significantly reduced and bone mineral density rates maintained.
The findings come from a randomised double-blind trial involving 80 post-menopausal women with a follow up of seven years.
The findings were reported yesterday in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The researchers say it is the longest and largest controlled study of the treatment so far.
In the study, women received placebo injections for 18 months or growth hormone for three years. Some received a single unit of growth hormone while others received 2.5 units.
The women were also compared with another 120 women who did not have osteoporosis.
The researchers reported that the rate of fractures halved among the women who were treated during the total ten years of the study. At the outset, more than half these women had bone fractures.
Researcher Dr Emily Krantz, of Södra Älvsborgs Hospital in Borås, Sweden, said: "Our study is the largest and longest controlled study of growth hormone treatment for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women to date.
"Years after treatment stopped, women who were treated with growth hormone still experienced improved bone density and reduced fracture risk."
Effect of Growth Hormone Treatment on Fractures and Quality of Life in Osteoporosis – A 10-year Follow-up Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 27 August 2015 [abstract]
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