This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lucidi, P. Articles by de Feo, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lucidi, P. Articles by de Feo, P.

Short-Term Treatment with Low Doses of Recombinant Human GH Stimulates Lipolysis in Visceral Obese Men

Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia 06126, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. Pierpaolo De Feo, Department of Internal Medicine, Section Internal Medicine, Endocrine, and Metabolic Sciences, Via Dal Pozzo, 06126 Perugia (I), Italy. E-mail: . defeo{at}dimisem.med.unipg.it

Abstract

This study was designed to explore whether low doses of recombinant human (rh)GH affect lipid, glucose, or protein metabolism in men with visceral obesity. Four different studies were performed in six, otherwise healthy, obese men (age, 42 ± 3; body mass index, 33 ± 1 kg/m²; waist circumference, 111 ± 3 cm; mean ± SEM). Lipid, glucose, and protein kinetics was estimated by infusing stable isotopes (glycerol, glucose, leucine) in the basal state and after 1 wk of treatment with sc bedtime injections of either placebo, 2.5 (GH2.5), or 3.3 (GH3.3) µg rhGH/kg body weight per day. When compared with baseline, placebo had no effect on lipid, glucose, or protein fluxes. In contrast, GH2.5 and GH3.3 increased lipolysis by approximately 25% (P < 0.04) without changing glucose and protein turnover rates. The two rhGH treatments increased within the normal range serum IGF-I (by 30%; P < 0.01), whereas they augmented insulin secretion (P < 0.04) in a dose-dependent manner (GH2.5 by 19%, GH3.3 by 37%). C-peptide secretion was increased (P = 0.01) only by GH3.3 (by 28%).

In conclusion, 1 wk of treatment with low doses of rhGH is sufficient to increase lipolysis in visceral obese men, but it does not modify glucose and protein turnover rates. The results of this study provide the rationale to design clinical trials using low doses of rhGH to attempt to reduce fat mass.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. D'Amico, J. Shi, R. V Sekhar, F. Jahoor, K. J Ellis, K. Rehman, J. Willis, M. Maldonado, and A. Balasubramanyam Physiologic growth hormone replacement improves fasting lipid kinetics in patients with HIV lipodystrophy syndrome Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2006; 84(1): 204 - 211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Luzi, E. Meneghini, S. Oggionni, G. Tambussi, L. Piceni-Sereni, and A. Lazzarin GH treatment reduces trunkal adiposity in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy: a randomized placebo-controlled study Eur. J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2005; 153(6): 781 - 789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Fricke, A. Schulz, H. John, W.-G. Forssmann, and E. Maronde Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Proopiomelanocortin-Derived Peptide from Hemofiltrate of Chronic Renal Failure Patients Endocrinology, April 1, 2005; 146(4): 2060 - 2068. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Kanaley, R. Dall, N. Moller, S. C. Nielsen, J. S. Christiansen, M. D. Jensen, and J. O. L. Jorgensen Acute exposure to GH during exercise stimulates the turnover of free fatty acids in GH-deficient men J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2004; 96(2): 747 - 753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]