Does growth hormone allow more efficient nitrogen sparing in postoperative patients requiring parenteral nutrition? A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial

After major gastrointestinal surgery, GH causes a marked hepatic IGF-I response and nitrogen retention but its effect on body composition was more significant with a high PN input. Further, Full-PN alone was sufficient to prevent nitrogen loss and preserved MM and addition of GH does not provide further metabolic advantage.