GH and IGF-I deficiency are associated with reduced loss of fat mass after laparoscopic-adjustable silicone gastric banding

Summary Context GH secretion is reduced in obese subjects and increases after body weight loss. It is still unclear if changes in the GH/IGF-I axis after laparoscopic-adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) are associated with changes of body composition. Objective To analyse the relationships between changes in the GH/IGF-I axis and those of body weight and composition before and after LASGB. Design Observational, prospective. Setting University ‘Federico II’ of Naples (Italy). Patients Seventy-two severely obese females (BMI: 44·9 ± 4·68; mean age: 33·1 ± 11·34 years) were studied. Main outcome measures GH peak after GHRH plus arginine test, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS levels, fat mass (FM) and free fat mass (FFM) (by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) at baseline and 6 months after LASGB. The change in percentage of individual variables was calculated as well as that of excess of body weight loss (EBWL%). The FM%, FFM% and EBWL% were correlated with peak GH and IGF-I levels changes. Results At baseline, GH deficiency (GHD) (GH peak = 4·1 µg/l) was found in 22 patients (31%), 16 of them also had IGF-I deficiency (