Growth hormone (GH) deficiency syndrome in adults is well established, as well as the benefits of replacement with recombinant GH. Body composition changes are frequently studied in these patients, and are characterized by an increase in total body fat with predominant trunk obesity, a decrease in lean body mass, muscular strength and total body water. All of these features are almost completely reversed after recombinant GH therapy. This study evaluated body composition and muscle power in 11 GH-deficient patients before and after undergoing a resistance-training program for 12 weeks without GH replacement. We evaluated the body composition by measuring girths, skinfolds, weight, height, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and abdominal computerized tomography. Muscle power was assessed in several muscle groups by mean of five exercises in a muscle-training machine, to which a tensiometer was attached. The data analysis showed that there were no changes in body composition, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and weight. When we studied separately the sum of central and peripheral skinfolds, we noted a volume reduction in the sum of central skinfolds. With relation to muscular strength and power there was no gain in handgrip muscular strength (p>0.05), whereas muscular power showed a significant increase after the training (p<0.01). We concluded that when these patients are submitted to a home-based training program of resistance - type exercises they gain muscular power, and that this type of exercise is a therapeutic alternative that can improve their quality of life whenever the use of recombinant GH is not possible.
Body composition; Muscular power; Exercise; Growth hormone
