Effect of phenylpropanolamine on energy expenditure and weight loss in overweight women.
The effect of phenylpropanolamine (PPA), a noncatecholamine sympathomimetic weight-loss agent, on energy expenditure (EE) and substrate oxidation was measured in a respiratory chamber in 24 overweight women after 4 d of treatment (PPA or placebo) during weight maintenance and after 7 wk of treatment on a hypoenergetic diet (70% of measured baseline 24-h EE). Twelve women (37 +/- 2 y, 74 +/- 6 kg, 33 +/- 1% body fat) were randomly assigned to the PPA group [75 mg osmotic release oral system (OROS)-PPA/d] and 12 (mean +/- SEM: 38 +/- 2 y, 79 +/- 1 kg, 37 +/- 1% body fat) to the placebo group. Baseline measurements of 24-h EE (7849 +/- 226 vs 7834 +/- 142 kJ/d), basal metabolic rate (BMR) and 24-h respiratory quotient (RQ) were comparable between PPA and placebo groups. After 4 d of treatment, there was no significant effect of PPA on 24-h EE, BMR, and 24-h RQ compared with placebo. Over the 7-wk diet period, however, the PPA group (n = 8) had greater weight loss than the placebo group (n = 10): -5.0 +/- 0.5 vs -3.0 +/- 0.4 kg (P < 0.05). The changes in 24-h EE and 24-h RQ over the 7 wk were not different between the groups. We conclude that weight loss is enhanced by OROS-PPA, but this change was not explained by changes in 24-h EE or 24-h RQ. The small number of subjects may have hindered detection of subtle differences in energy metabolism.
Alger
S
S
Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, AZ 85016.
Larson
K
K
Boyce
V L
VL
Seagle
H
H
Fontvieille
A M
AM
Ferraro
R T
RT
Rising
R
R
Ravussin
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001823:Body Composition; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010919:Placebos; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
D002395:Catecholamines; D010919:Placebos; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D009584:Nitrogen