How does raloxifene influence the effects of growth hormone replacement

Raloxifene is a member of a family of compounds called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS) that exert many of the beneficial effects of estrogen replacement without the associated increase in risk of breast and uterine cancer. Growth hormone (GH) replacement is beneficial in adults with hypopituitarism. Most GH deficient women also require oestrogen replacement. Oral oestrogens antagonise GH action at the liver, thereby reducing its beneficial effects on body composition and metabolism. The aim of this study is to investigate whether SERMs exert less of a negative influence on the effects of GH replacement, and therefore would be superior to conventional estrogen replacement in this setting.