Can growth hormone make short boys stronger?
NCT ID NCT04020913
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study looked at whether growth hormone therapy can improve muscle strength, power, and body composition in short prepubertal boys, both those with growth hormone deficiency and those with idiopathic short stature. Thirty short boys received growth hormone injections for 12 months, and their results were compared to 15 normally growing boys not on the hormone. The goal was to see if growth hormone does more than just increase height.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Somatropin (recombinant growth hormone, Norditropin)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that growth hormone therapy improves not just height but also muscle strength and function in short boys.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 45 participants, so results may not apply to all short boys. Growth hormone therapy also carries risks like joint pain and fluid retention.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Nemours Children's Clinic
Jacksonville, Florida, 32207, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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