Enhanced thermogenic responsiveness during chronic ephedrine treatment in man.
The thermogenic effect of a single oral dose of ephedrine (1 mg/kg body weight) was studied by indirect calorimetry in five women with 14% overweight before, during and 2 mo after 3 mo of chronic ephedrine treatment (20 mg, perorally, three times daily). Before treatment and 2 mo after its cessation a similar thermogenic response to ephedrine was observed. The total extra consumption of oxygen was 1.3 1 before and 1.2 1 after cessation of the chronic treatment. After 4 and 12 wk of treatment ephedrine elicited a more sustained response, the extra oxygen consumption in the 3 h following ephedrine intake being 7.0 and 6.9 1, respectively. The ratio of serum T3 to T4 increased significantly after 4 wk of treatment (15.6 +/- 1.3 vs 19.4 +/- 2.4; p less than 0.05), but decreased below the initial value after 12 wk treatment. The mean body weight was significantly reduced after 4 and 12 wk of treatment (2.5 and 5.5 kg, respectively). An improved capacity for beta-adrenergic induced thermogenesis may be useful in the treatment of obesity.
D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002395:Catecholamines; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D012964:Sodium; D004809:Ephedrine; D013974:Thyroxine; D011188:Potassium