Case-control study, 2005
Do women with depression have different growth hormone patterns than healthy women across the menstrual cycle?
There was no difference in average growth hormone levels between depressed and healthy women. However, growth hormone levels were higher during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in both groups.
What they did
Case-control study with 19 women with depression and 24 healthy controls with average age around 29 years. Growth hormone was measured every 10 minutes for 24 hours. Some women were studied during the follicular phase and others during the luteal phase.
What they found
There was no difference in 24-hour average growth hormone levels between depressed and control women (P = 0.93). Growth hormone pulse frequency was higher during the follicular phase (P = 0.032). Nocturnal growth hormone was higher during the follicular phase (P = 0.05, P = 0.0138 after adjustment) regardless of depression status.
What it means for you
The main finding is that menstrual cycle phase affects growth hormone levels in all women. When studying growth hormone in women with or without depression, researchers need to control for menstrual cycle phase. The study shows no specific depression-related effect on this particular hormone.
19
women with depression
24
healthy women
P = 0.032
growth hormone higher in follicular phase
About the study
- Original title
- The pattern of growth hormone secretion during the menstrual cycle in normal and depressed women
- Authors
- Kasa-Vubu JZ, Dimaraki EV, Young EA
- Journal
- Clinical endocrinology
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Case-control study
- What was tested
- Growth hormone levels in depressed vs healthy women
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2005.02274.x
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