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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.

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