This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor 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 Franco, C. Articles by Johannsson, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Franco, C. Articles by Johannsson, G. Related Collections Neuroendocrinology and Pituitary Obesity

Growth Hormone Treatment Reduces Abdominal Visceral Fat in Postmenopausal Women with Abdominal Obesity: A 12-Month Placebo-Controlled Trial

Research Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism (C.F., B.-A.B., G.J.), Department of Medicine (B.A.), and Departments of Radiology and Body Composition and Metabolism (J.B., L.L.), Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Celina Franco, M.D., Research Centre for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gröna Stråket 8, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. E-mail: Celina.Franco{at}medic.gu.se.

Abdominal obesity is associated with blunted GH secretion and a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that characterize the metabolic syndrome. GH treatment in abdominally obese men reduces visceral adipose tissue and has beneficial effects on the metabolic profile. There are no long-term data on the effects of GH treatment on postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity.

Forty postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-month trial with GH (0.67 mg/d). The primary aim was to study the effect of GH treatment on insulin sensitivity.

Measurements of glucose disposal rate (GDR) using a euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp; abdominal fat, hepatic fat content, and thigh muscle area using computed tomography; and total body fat and fat-free mass derived from ⁴⁰K measurements were performed at baseline and at 6 and 12 months.

GH treatment reduced visceral fat mass, increased thigh muscle area, and reduced total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with placebo. Insulin sensitivity was increased at 12 months compared with baseline values in the GH-treated group. In the GH-treated group only, a low baseline GDR was correlated with a more marked improvement in insulin sensitivity (r = –0.68; P < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between changes in GDR and liver attenuation as a measure of hepatic fat content between baseline and 12 months (r = 0.7; P < 0.001) in the GH-treated group.

In postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity, 1 yr of GH treatment improved insulin sensitivity and reduced abdominal visceral fat and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. The improvement in insulin sensitivity was associated with reduced hepatic fat content.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. A. Bredella, M. Torriani, B. J. Thomas, R. H. Ghomi, D. J. Brick, A. V. Gerweck, and K. K. Miller Peak Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone-Arginine-Stimulated Growth Hormone Is Inversely Associated with Intramyocellular and Intrahepatic Lipid Content in Premenopausal Women with Obesity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2009; 94(10): 3995 - 4002. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Munzer, S. M. Harman, J. D. Sorkin, and M. R. Blackman Growth Hormone and Sex Steroid Effects on Serum Glucose, Insulin, and Lipid Concentrations in Healthy Older Women and Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2009; 94(10): 3833 - 3841. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. A. Irving, J. Y. Weltman, J. T. Patrie, C. K. Davis, D. W. Brock, D. Swift, E. J. Barrett, G. A. Gaesser, and A. Weltman Effects of Exercise Training Intensity on Nocturnal Growth Hormone Secretion in Obese Adults with the Metabolic Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2009; 94(6): 1979 - 1986. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Savastano, C. Di Somma, L. Angrisani, F. Orio, S. Longobardi, G. Lombardi, and A. Colao Growth Hormone Treatment Prevents Loss of Lean Mass after Bariatric Surgery in Morbidly Obese Patients: Results of a Pilot, Open, Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2009; 94(3): 817 - 826. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Bredella, A. L. Utz, M. Torriani, B. Thomas, D. A. Schoenfeld, and K. K. Miller Anthropometry, CT, and DXA as predictors of GH deficiency in premenopausal women: ROC curve analysis J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2009; 106(2): 418 - 422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. C. Mekala and N. A. Tritos Effects of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Therapy in Obesity in Adults: A Metaanalysis J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2009; 94(1): 130 - 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Weltman, J. Y. Weltman, D. D. Watson Winfield, K. Frick, J. Patrie, P. Kok, D. M. Keenan, G. A. Gaesser, and J. D. Veldhuis Effects of Continuous Versus Intermittent Exercise, Obesity, and Gender on Growth Hormone Secretion J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2008; 93(12): 4711 - 4720. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Nass, S. S. Pezzoli, M. C. Oliveri, J. T. Patrie, F. E. Harrell Jr., J. L. Clasey, S. B. Heymsfield, M. A. Bach, M. L. Vance, and M. O. Thorner Effects of an Oral Ghrelin Mimetic on Body Composition and Clinical Outcomes in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized Trial Ann Intern Med, November 4, 2008; 149(9): 601 - 611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Johannsson Central Adiposity as an Important Confounder in the Diagnosis of Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2008; 93(11): 4221 - 4223. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Makimura, T. Stanley, D. Mun, S. M. You, and S. Grinspoon The Effects of Central Adiposity on Growth Hormone (GH) Response to GH-Releasing Hormone-Arginine Stimulation Testing in Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2008; 93(11): 4254 - 4260. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J BRANDBERG, L LONN, E BERGELIN, L SJOSTROM, E FORSSELL-ARONSSON, and G STARCK Accurate tissue area measurements with considerably reduced radiation dose achieved by patient-specific CT scan parameters Br. J. Radiol., October 1, 2008; 81(970): 801 - 808. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Misra, M. A. Bredella, P. Tsai, N. Mendes, K. K. Miller, and A. Klibanski Lower growth hormone and higher cortisol are associated with greater visceral adiposity, intramyocellular lipids, and insulin resistance in overweight girls Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2008; 295(2): E385 - E392. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Utz, A. Yamamoto, L. Hemphill, and K. K. Miller Growth Hormone Deficiency by Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone-Arginine Testing Criteria Predicts Increased Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Normal Young Overweight and Obese Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2008; 93(7): 2507 - 2514. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Pasarica, J. J. Zachwieja, L. DeJonge, S. Redman, and S. R. Smith Effect of Growth Hormone on Body Composition and Visceral Adiposity in Middle-Aged Men with Visceral Obesity J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2007; 92(11): 4265 - 4270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Franco, B. Andersson, L. Lonn, B.-A. Bengtsson, J. Svensson, and G. Johannsson Growth Hormone Reduces Inflammation in Postmenopausal Women with Abdominal Obesity: A 12-Month, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2007; 92(7): 2644 - 2647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Bray and F. L. Greenway Pharmacological Treatment of the Overweight Patient Pharmacol. Rev., June 1, 2007; 59(2): 151 - 184. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Lin, E.-J. D. Lin, D. Boey, N. J. Lee, K. Slack, M. J. During, A. Sainsbury, and H. Herzog Fasting Inhibits the Growth and Reproductive Axes via Distinct Y2 and Y4 Receptor-Mediated Pathways Endocrinology, May 1, 2007; 148(5): 2056 - 2065. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Liu, D. M. Bravata, I. Olkin, S. Nayak, B. Roberts, A. M. Garber, and A. R. Hoffman Systematic Review: The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone in the Healthy Elderly Ann Intern Med, January 16, 2007; 146(2): 104 - 115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Onder, R. Liperoti, A. Russo, M. Soldato, E. Capoluongo, S. Volpato, M. Cesari, F. Ameglio, R. Bernabei, and F. Landi Body mass index, free insulin-like growth factor I, and physical function among older adults: results from the ilSIRENTE study Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, October 1, 2006; 291(4): E829 - E834. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Franco, J. D Veldhuis, A. Iranmanesh, J. Brandberg, L. Lonn, B. Andersson, B.-A. Bengtsson, J. Svensson, and G. Johannsson Thigh intermuscular fat is inversely associated with spontaneous GH release in post-menopausal women with abdominal obesity. Eur. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2006; 155(2): 261 - 268. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Wei, Z. Rhani, and C. G. Goodyer Characterization of Growth Hormone Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Variants in Human Adipocytes J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2006; 91(5): 1901 - 1908. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]