Growth hormone and lean tissue catabolism during long-term glucocorticoid treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine whether growth hormone (GH) treatment decreased net protein catabolism of lean tissues in patients receiving chronic glucocorticoid treatment.


METHODS
Whole body leucine kinetics were measured in post-absorptive conditions using a 1-14C-leucine infusion before and during GH administration (0.0125 mg/kg/day; 0.033 U/kg/day) for 7 days.


METHODS
We studied four patients (age range 31-71 years) who had taken prednisone (mean +/- SEM 0.21 +/- 0.03 mg/kg/day, total dose 10-27.5 mg/day) for longer than 5 months for various lung diseases.


RESULTS
During GH treatment leucine oxidation decreased (baseline 0.44 +/- 0.07 vs GH 0.37 +/- 0.05 mumol/kg lean body mass/min, P = 0.01) and non-oxidative leucine disposal increased (1.95 +/- 0.10 vs 2.05 +/- 0.09 mumol/kg lean body mass/min, P = 0.02) but leucine appearance was unaltered.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that GH decreased amino acid catabolism and improved protein synthesis without altering protein breakdown in patients receiving chronic glucocorticoid treatment. There may be a role for GH in mitigating the protein catabolic side-effects of prolonged glucocorticoid treatment.
Bennet
W M
WM
Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905.
Haymond
M W
MW
D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D002208:Caproates / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007651:Keto Acids / Q000097:blood; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D002208:Caproates; D007651:Keto Acids; D011506:Proteins; C013082:alpha-ketoisocaproic acid; D013006:Growth Hormone; D011239:Prednisolone; D007930:Leucine; D009584:Nitrogen