Effect of Estrogen on GH Secretion and Action in Postmenopausal Women

  • Ken K. Y. Ho
  • Anthony J. O’Sullivan
Chapter
Part of the Proceedings in the Serono Symposia USA Series book series (SERONOSYMP)

Abstract

There is evidence that estrogen regulates growth hormone (GH) secretion in the human female. Serum oestradiol and GH levels are significantly correlated in pubertal girls (1). GH secretion varies during the menstrual cycle, with mean concentrations highest during the late follicular phase when estrogen concentration is highest (2). Mean 24-h GH and IGF-I levels are lower in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women, suggesting that reduced activity of the somatotrophic axis in the menopause may be secondary to estrogen deficiency (3). The collective observations suggest that gonadal steroid deficiency may be associated with a reduction in GH secretion, which can be restored by sex-steroid replacement.

Keywords

Growth Hormone Lean Body Mass Ethinyl Estradiol Oral Estrogen Estradiol Valerate 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1999

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ken K. Y. Ho
  • Anthony J. O’Sullivan

There are no affiliations available

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