title: Effects of growth hormone and/or testosterone on very low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B100 kinetics and plasma lipids in healthy elderly men: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of low dose recombinant growth hormone (GH), testosterone (T) and combined GH and T, on lipid profiles and very low density lipoprotein apolipoprotein B (VLDL apoB) metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine healthy elderly men (65-80 yr) were studied in a six month double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomised to placebo GH and placebo T (P), GH and placebo T (GH), T and placebo GH (T) or GH and T (GHT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma lipid profiles were assessed before treatment and at 6 months. VLDL apoB absolute secretion rate (ASR) and fractional catabolic rate (FCR) were measured in a subset of 21 men: P (n=5); GH (n=5); T (n=6); GHT (n=5), with an infusion of 1-(13)C leucine. Fat mass (FM) was measured by DEXA and intra-abdominal fat (IAF) by CT scan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IGF-I levels increased in the GH and GHT (P<0.001) groups: testosterone increased in the T (P=0.029) and GHT (P=0.05) groups. There was no change in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein B or lipoprotein(a) in the GH, GHT or T groups. In the subset of 21 men, IGF-I levels increased similarly with GH and GHT (P<0.01) but T levels increased only with T (P<0.03). FM and IAF decreased significantly only with GHT (P<0.01, P=0.01). Treatment with GH, T or GHT had no effect on VLDL apoB ASR or VLDL FCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-administration of GH and T in near physiological doses in healthy elderly men resulted in favourable changes in body composition without altering the plasma lipid profile or VLDL apoB metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, St. Thomas's Hospital, GKT School of Medicine, King's College London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Manthos G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Giannoulis
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shojaee-Moradie
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sonksen
authors.forename: Finbarr C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A Margot
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Umpleby
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100 / Q000097:blood*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D053299:Apolipoprotein B-100; D008055:Lipids; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I