Effects Of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone On The Trace Element Metabolism In Gastroenteric Patients After Operation

Injury, infection and intake inhibition always lead to a negative balance on the nutritional status in surgical patients of postoperation convalescence, by increasing catabolism and decreasing anabolism, which can not be improved effectively by exotic nutrition support singly. Growth hormone (GH), excreted by the pituitary, is a kind of synthesis promoting hormone that can promote the linear growth by its effects on the bones and muscles. Many reported results suggested that GH was able to increase the synthesis of protein and the retention of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), and to effectively reverse the negative nutritional balances caused by hyperirritability. But up to now, there have been just a few papers discussing the effect of GH on the trace elements.The president study was designed to evaluate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the metabolism of Zn, Cu and Fe in the gastroenteric patients in the period of postoperation convalescence. Forty two gastroenteric patients with postoperation were randomly divided into the rhGH or the control group. At eight o'clock in every morning from day 3 to 9 after operation, 0.15 IU/(kg.d) rhGH was subcutaneously administrated to the rhGH group, while placebo tothe control group. Samples of diet, urine, feces and sometimes drain were collected respectively and used for determination of Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations in the sample solutions. Positive balances of Zn, Cu and Fe were observed in both groups of patients either with enteral or parenteral nutrition. The metabolic balances of the three elements in the rhGH group were higher (P<0.05) than those in the control group. In the rhGH group, the average urinary contents of Zn, Cu and Fe decreased more rapidly (P<0.05), and the fecal loss of Cu but not Fe and Zn was much lower when compared with the corresponding figures in the control. The apparent utilization of Zn, Cu and Fe as well as the apparent Cu absorption in the rhGH group were significantly higher (P<0.001) than those in the control group. There were negative correlations between the fecal Zn, fecal Cu, fecal Fe, urinary Zn and their balances respectively. The results indicated that the rhGH administration in gastroenteric patients after operation reduced urinary Zn, Cu and Fe losses, improved their utilizations and was favorable for positive balances and retentions.