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Background. Literature reports examining the association of bone mineral density (BMD) and socioeconomic status suggest of an inconclusive relation.Methods. We studied 58 and 54 women (mean age 49.5 ± 7.2 years) from upper socioeconomic class (USC) and lower socioeconomic class (LSC), respectively, for their BMD at lumber spine and total femur by Lunar DPX-PRO dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Socioeconomic, lifestyle and biochemical data were collected. Results .P ercent prevalence of osteoporosis in USC women was 12% and 0% at lumber spine and total femur, respectively, while it was 33% and 11%, respectively, in LSC women. When the mean BMD values were adjusted for the effect of body mass index, protein and calcium intake, physical activity, and sunlight exposure, only the total femoral BMD of USC premenopausal women was significantly greater. Conclusion. Our data suggest that bone health of our LSC women was poor possibly due to the influence of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.

Objective. To evaluate the impact of recombinant human growth hormone therapy (GHT) on serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentrations in Indian children with growth hormone deficiency. Methods. Data on anthropometry and serum IGF-1 concentrations were collected from 28 growth hormone-deficient prepubertal children (8.6 ± 2.9 years) on growth hormone therapy, 6 monthly over the period of 2 years. Results. Height z-scores showed a steady increase from baseline to 24 months. However, IGF-1 z-scores showed a plateau after the first 6 months and then a small dip followed by a rise. The pattern of increase of IGF-1 z-scores was dissimilar to that of the height z-scores. Conclusion. The change in serum IGF-1 z-scores in response to GHT in Indian children may not be a good indicator for monitoring growth hormone responsiveness.

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency in children manifests as short stature but is also associated with metabolic disturbances. Paucity of GH is also likely to be associated with increased intima media thickness. Data on body composition (BC) and carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) from developing countries are very scarce. Therefore, objectives of present study were to assess effect of 1 year of rhGH therapy on (i) BC and lipid profile (LP) in a cohort of Indian GHD children and (ii) effect on atherosclerotic markers - cIMT in subsample. Anthropometry, BC [% body fat (BF), % lean body mass (LBM), bone mineral content (BMC)] (DXA) and LP were measured in 49 pre-pubertal GHD-children (9.3 ± 3.1 years) at baseline and after 1 year of rhGH therapy. On subset of 20 children, cIMT of right common carotid artery was also measured. Baseline BC parameters were compared with age-gender matched healthy controls (n = 49). At baseline % BF was 23 ± 9 %, LBM was 9 ± 3 kg and BMC was 0.306 ± 0.15 kg in GHD- children; BF was comparable, while lean and bone were less than controls (p 0.05). Post therapy, significant reduction in fat (15%), and cIMT (7%) and increase in LBM and BMC by 40% and 44%, respectively (p 0.05) was seen. Our cohort of untreated GHD children had abnormal BC and cIMT as compared to controls. rhGH therapy for 1 year had beneficial effect on BC and cardiovascular risk factors.