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Effect of Growth Hormone (GH) on Glycerol and Free Fatty Acid Metabolism during Exhaustive Exercise in GH-Deficient Adults

Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Guys, Kings and St. Thomas’ School of Medicine, St. Thomas Hospital, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. James Gibney, Department of Endocrinology, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. E-mail: j.gibney{at}st-vincents.ie.

GH is an important regulator of fat metabolism at rest, but it is not known whether it regulates fat metabolism during exercise. To determine whether physiologic concentrations of GH influence fat metabolism during exercise, we randomized 16 GH-deficient adults, receiving long-term (mean duration, 5 yr) GH replacement, to either continue GH (n = 8) or receive identical placebo (n = 8) for a 3-month period. Metabolic studies, at rest, during and following exhaustive exercise were carried out at baseline and at the end of the 3 months. The rate of appearance of glycerol (glycerol Ra, an index of lipolysis) and free fatty acids (FFA, FFA Ra) and the rate of disappearance of FFA (FFA Rd) in the plasma were measured using infusions of ²H₅-glycerol and 1-¹³C-palmitic acid. Changes in body composition were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning and anthropometric measurements. In the baseline studies, exercise resulted in an increase in plasma glycerol and FFA concentrations, glycerol Ra, FFA Ra, and FFA Rd (P < 0.001). Three months of GH withdrawal resulted in reductions in plasma glycerol and FFA, glycerol Ra, FFA Ra, and FFA Rd at rest (P < 0.05 vs. baseline) and during exercise (P < 0.05 vs. baseline and vs. GH treated). Lean body mass decreased after 3 months of GH withdrawal, but total body fat, trunk fat, waist circumference, and the sum of skinfold thicknesses increased after 3 months of GH withdrawal (P < 0.05 vs. baseline and vs. GH treated). Fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance decreased after 3 months of GH withdrawal (P < 0.05 vs. baseline and vs. GH treated). In summary, GH withdrawal for 3 months resulted in reductions in release of glycerol and FFA into the circulation and uptake of FFA into the tissues during intense exercise. These changes were accompanied by reduced lean body mass and increased total body and trunk fat. Further studies are required to determine whether reduced mobilization of fat during exercise contributes to reduced exercise capacity and increased body fat in GH-deficient adults.

Abbreviations: CV, Coefficient of variation; DEXA, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; FFA, free fatty acids; GCMS, gas chromatography mass spectrometry; GHD, GH deficient; Ra, rate of appearance; Rd, rate of disappearance; VO₂, oxygen consumption.

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