Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Exercise-induced GH secretion is related to puberty

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Exercise represents a physiological stimulus that initiates the coordinated responses of hypothalamic–pituitary axis and sympathetic nervous system. Aims of the study were: 1) to analyze the response of GH, cortisol and prolactin to acute exercise in healthy children with normal GH response to stimulation tests 2) to evaluate the reliability of physical exercise as a screening test for GH secretion.

Methods

Forty-four children (mean age 9.35 ± 2.69 years, range 4–13.7) underwent standardized Bruce’s test on treadmill. Twenty-nine children were pre-pubertal (nine females and 20 males) and 15 children were pubertal (ten females and five males).

Results

Exercise elicited a peak secretion of all the analyzed hormones. GH showed the highest mean percentage increase (558%), followed by prolactin (178%) and cortisol (23%). In 19/44 children (43.2%), GH peak did not reach the cut-off level of 8 ng/ml, considered as the normal GH response to stimulation tests. Despite a wide inter-individual variability, both GH peak and GH increase from baseline were higher in pubertal children than in pre-pubertal ones (GH peak: 13.49 ± 10.28 ng/ml versus 6.6 ± 4.09 ng/ml—p < 0.001; GH increase: 12.02 ± 10.30 ng/ml versus 5.28 ± 3.97 ng/ml—p < 0.001). The impact of puberty on both GH peak and GH increase was independent of sex, age, BMI SDS and VO2max. No differences related to sex or pubertal status were found in cortisol and prolactin responses.

Conclusion

Exercise-induced GH secretion should not be considered a valuable screening tool in the diagnostic work-up of GH deficiency, due to the wide inter-individual variability in GH response. As described for standard GH stimulation tests, puberty represents the key factor that enhances GH secretion in healthy children.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. Richmond E, Rogol AD (2016) Endocrine responses to exercise in the developing child and adolescent. Front Horm Res 47:58–67. https://doi.org/10.1159/000445157

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Eliakim A, Nemet D (2013) The endocrine response to exercise and training in young athletes. Pediatr Exerc Sci 25(4):605–615. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.25.4.605

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Borer KT (1995) The effects of exercise on growth. Sports Med (Auckland, N.Z.) 20(6):375–397. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199520060-00004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Eliakim A, Nemet D (2008) Exercise provocation test for growth hormone secretion: methodologic considerations. Pediatr Exerc Sci 20(4):370–378. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.20.4.370

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Greene SA, Torresani T, Prader A (1987) Growth hormone response to a standardised exercise test in relation to puberty and stature. Arch Dis Child 62(1):53–56. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.62.1.53

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Keenan BS, Killmer LB Jr, Sode J (1972) Growth hormone response to exercise. A test of pituitary function in children. Pediatrics 50(5):760–764

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Johanson AJ, Morris GL (1977) A single growth hormone determination to rule out growth hormone deficiency. Pediatrics 59(3):467–468

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Eisenstein E, Plotnick L, Lanes R, Lee PA, Migeon CJ, Kowarski AA (1978) Evaluation of the growth hormone exercise test in normal and growth hormone-deficient children. Pediatrics 62(4):526–528

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Buckler JM (1973) Plasma growth hormone response to exercise as diagnostic aid. Arch Dis Child 48(7):565–567. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.48.7.565

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Lacey KA, Hewison A, Parkin JM (1973) Exercise as a screening test for growth hormone deficiency in children. Arch Dis Child 48(7):508–512. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.48.7.508

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Ubertini G, Grossi A, Colabianchi D, Fiori R, Brufani C, Bizzarri C, Giannone G, Rigamonti AE, Sartorio A, Muller EE, Cappa M (2008) Young elite athletes of different sport disciplines present with an increase in pulsatile secretion of growth hormone compared with non-elite athletes and sedentary subjects. J Endocrinol Invest 31(2):138–145. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345580

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cacciari E, Milani S, Balsamo A, Spada E, Bona G, Cavallo L, Cerutti F, Gargantini L, Greggio N, Tonini G, Cicognani A (2006) Italian cross-sectional growth charts for height, weight and BMI (2 to 20 yr). J Endocrinol Invest 29(7):581–593. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03344156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH (1976) Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child 51(3):170–179. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.51.3.170

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Tanner JM, Goldstein H, Whitehouse RH (1970) Standards for children's height at ages 2–9 years allowing for heights of parents. Arch Dis Child 45(244):755–762. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.45.244.755

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Marshall WA, Tanner JM (1969) Variations in pattern of pubertal changes in girls. Arch Dis Child 44(235):291–303. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.44.235.291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Zachmann M, Prader A, Kind HP, Häfliger H, Budliger H (1974) Testicular volume during adolescence. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Helvetica paediatrica acta 29(1):61–72

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Bruce RA (1994) Clinical exercise testing. A review of personal and community practice experience. Prim Care 21(3):405–414

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bedogni G, Giannone G, Maghnie M, Giacomozzi C, Di Iorgi N, Pedicelli S, Peschiaroli E, Melioli G, Muraca M, Cappa M, Cianfarani S (2012) Serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) reference ranges for chemiluminescence assay in childhood and adolescence. Data from a population of in- and out-patients. Growth Horm IGF Res 22(3–4):134–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ghir.2012.04.005

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Eliakim A, Nemet D, Zaldivar F, McMurray RG, Culler FL, Galassetti P, Cooper DM (2006) Reduced exercise-associated response of the GH-IGF-I axis and catecholamines in obese children and adolescents. J Appl Physiol (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 100(5):1630–1637. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01072.2005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Engel F, Härtel S, Wagner MO, Strahler J, Bös K, Sperlich B (2014) Hormonal, metabolic, and cardiorespiratory responses of young and adult athletes to a single session of high-intensity cycle exercise. Pediatr Exerc Sci 26(4):485–494. https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2013-0152

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. del Corral P, Mahon AD, Duncan GE, Howe CA, Craig BW (1994) The effect of exercise on serum and salivary cortisol in male children. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26(11):1297–1301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Galassetti PR, Iwanaga K, Crisostomo M, Zaldivar FP, Larson J, Pescatello A (2006) Inflammatory cytokine, growth factor and counterregulatory responses to exercise in children with type 1 diabetes and healthy controls. Pediatr diabetes 7(1):16–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-543X.2006.00140.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Paltoglou G, Fatouros IG, Valsamakis G, Schoina M, Avloniti A, Chatzinikolaou A, Kambas A, Draganidis D, Mantzou A, Papagianni M, Kanaka-Gantenbein C, Chrousos GP, Mastorakos G (2015) Antioxidation improves in puberty in normal weight and obese boys, in positive association with exercise-stimulated growth hormone secretion. Pediatr Res 78(2):158–164. https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2015.85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wideman L, Weltman JY, Shah N, Story S, Veldhuis JD, Weltman A (1999) Effects of gender on exercise-induced growth hormone release. J Appl Physiol (Bethesda, Md.: 1985) 87(3):1154–1162. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1999.87.3.1154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Engström BE, Karlsson FA, Wide L (1998) Marked gender differences in ambulatory morning growth hormone values in young adults. Clin Chem 44(6 Pt 1):1289–1295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ghigo E, Bellone J, Aimaretti G, Bellone S, Loche S, Cappa M, Bartolotta E, Dammacco F, Camanni F (1996) Reliability of provocative tests to assess growth hormone secretory status. Study in 472 normally growing children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 81(9):3323–3327. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.81.9.8784091

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cappa M, Bizzarri C, Martinez C, Porzio O, Giannone G, Turchetta A, Calzolari A (2000) Neuroregulation of growth hormone during exercise in children. Int J Sports Med 21(Suppl 2):S125–S128. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2000-8503

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Donaubauer J, Kratzsch J, Fritzsch C, Stach B, Kiess W, Keller E (2001) The treadmill exhausting test is not suitable for screening of growth hormone deficiency! Horm Res 55(3):137–140. https://doi.org/10.1159/000049985

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Guzzetti C, Ibba A, Pilia S, Beltrami N, Di Iorgi N, Rollo A, Fratangeli N, Radetti G, Zucchini S, Maghnie M, Cappa M, Loche S (2016) Cut-off limits of the peak GH response to stimulation tests for the diagnosis of GH deficiency in children and adolescents: study in patients with organic GHD. Eur J Endocrinol 175(1):41–47. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-16-0105

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Marin G, Domené HM, Barnes KM, Blackwell BJ, Cassorla FG, Cutler GB Jr (1994) The effects of estrogen priming and puberty on the growth hormone response to standardized treadmill exercise and arginine-insulin in normal girls and boys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 79(2):537–541. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.79.2.8045974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165, Rome, Italy

    C. Bizzarri, D. Colabianchi & M. Cappa

  2. Medical Laboratory Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    G. A. Giannone

  3. Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Roma “Foro Italico”, Rome, Italy

    L. Di Luigi

Authors
  1. C. Bizzarri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Colabianchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. A. Giannone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. Di Luigi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Cappa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Bizzarri.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The institutional review board approved the study.

Informed consent

Informed assent and consent were obtained from all the included subjects and their parents or guardians.

Consent for publication

The institutional review board approved the publication of the study. No identifying information about participants is available in the article.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bizzarri, C., Colabianchi, D., Giannone, G.A. et al. Exercise-induced GH secretion is related to puberty. J Endocrinol Invest 44, 1283–1289 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-020-01426-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-020-01426-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation