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N/A N=24 Randomized Diagnostic

Growth Hormone as a Determinant of Weight Regulation

Obesity

Enrolled (actual)
24
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jul 2013
Primary outcome: Primary: 24 Hour Average Plasma Growth Hormone Concentration — 0.4; 1.2; 4.1 ng/mL

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
N/A
Interventions
overfeeding (Other); growth hormone treatment (Drug)
Age
Adult · 18+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
University of Michigan
Primary completion
Dec 2011

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
24 Hour Average Plasma Growth Hormone Concentration
0.4; 1.2; 4.1
PRIMARY
Changes in Body Weight
2.4; 3.6; 3.1
PRIMARY
Baseline Whole Body Protein Turnover
2.1; 1.9; 1.6
PRIMARY
Baseline Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis
0.043; 0.047; 0.033
PRIMARY
Lipolytic Rate
180; 200; 195
PRIMARY
Whole Body Protein Turnover After 2 Week Intervention
2.8; 2.3; 1.9
PRIMARY
2 Week Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis
0.063; 0.062; 0.082
PRIMARY
Changes in Fat Mass
1.6; 1.7; 1.1
PRIMARY
Changes in Fat-free Mass
0.7; 2.2; 2.3

Summary

With the alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity, identifying factors that predispose individuals to weight-gain is of critical importance. Even when caloric intake and physical activity levels are well controlled, susceptibility for weight-gain is heterogeneous. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) represents the largest portion of daily energy expenditure in normal adults, and as such, variability in BMR among individuals can be a major factor in determining the susceptibility for gaining weight. However, factors responsible for this variability in BMR and resistance to weight-gain remain unclear. Our preliminary data indicate that high-normal growth hormone (GH) concentration is associated with resistance to weight-gain in rats when overfed and greater weight-loss in humans when underfed. In addition, the investigators have found that the pulsatility of GH secretion has profound effects on several metabolic processes. Therefore, together these findings suggest that endogenous GH secretion is associated with body weight regulation, and the pulsatility (peak amplitude) of GH secretion, rather than the absolute GH concentration, per se, may be responsible for this effect. Because GH influences many of the key metabolic processes that contribute to BMR (e.g.; protein synthesis, proteolysis, substrate cycling), the investigators anticipate that the resistance to weight-gain in persons with elevated GH concentrations will be associated with an increase in BMR due to acceleration of some or all of these processes. Our overall hypothesis is that increased GH secretion can protect against weight-gain due to an augmentation of major metabolic processes that contribute to BMR. Identifying factors responsible for predisposing individuals to weight-gain will lead to establishing improved methods for reducing the prevalence of obesity.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Age = 21-35 years Weight stable ( 150 mg/dl) Hematocrit 2 h/week) taking any prescription medication (except birth control)

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00355784). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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