title: Effect of short-term recombinant growth hormone administration on plasma lipoproteins in elderly adults.
abstract: To characterize the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, rhGH was administered daily at a dose of 40 micrograms.kg-1 (Genentech) for 14 days in 7 healthy elderly male (67.4 +/- 1.9 years, 75.8 +/- 2.6 kg) adults. Six other healthy males (63.9 +/- 0.7 years, 77.8 +/- 3.8 kg) served as concurrent controls. Total plasma cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), very-low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein-TG (VLDL-TG) and apolipoprotein AI and apolipoprotein B were determined after an overnight fast before and after the 14-day period of rhGH administration. Subcutaneous rhGH administration was physiologically effective, as shown by a threefold increase in insulin-like growth factor-I (from 110.8 +/- 8.2 to 355.5 +/- 41.6 ng.ml-1; p < 0.05). Plasma fasting insulin also increased from 38.0 +/- 6.5 to 129.9 +/- 43.8 mumol.l-1 (p < 0.05) at the end of the 14 days of rhGH treatment. With respect to plasma lipid/lipoprotein changes, rhGH administration increased plasma TG levels (from 1.5 +/- 0.3 to 2.2 +/- 0.4 mmol.l-1; p < 0.05) and VLDL-TG (from 1.1 +/- 0.3 to 1.8 +/- 0.4 mmol.l-1; p < 0.05), but did not change TC (from 5.0 +/- 0.4 to 5.2 +/- 0.3 mmol.l-1) or any other lipid/lipoprotein variables measured. No significant lipid changes were noted in the control group over the 14-day period. These data suggest that short-term rhGH treatment significantly alters plasma variables of TG profile, perhaps by altering metabolic parameters (i.e. synthesis and/or clearance rates) of VLDL metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Metabolism Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo., USA. anglopls@whale.st.usm.edu
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Angelopoulos
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Seip
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007328:Insulin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I