title: Growth hormone reduces inflammation in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity: a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominal obesity is associated with low GH secretion, elevated circulating markers of inflammation, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to study the effect of GH treatment on inflammatory markers and vascular adhesion molecules in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty women aged 51-63 yr received GH (0.67 mg/d) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-month trial. Measurements of inflammatory markers [highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, and amyloid polypeptideA] and markers of endothelial dysfunction (soluble E-selectin, vascular adhesion molecule-1, intercellular molecule-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-9) were performed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 months, the mean IGF sd score was 0.9 +/- 1.5 and -0.8 +/- 0.6 in the GH and placebo groups, respectively. GH treatment reduced CRP and IL-6 levels compared with placebo (P = 0.03 and P = 0.05, respectively), whereas the markers of endothelial dysfunction were unaffected. Within the GH-treated group, a reduction was shown in CRP (4.3 +/- 4 to 3.0 +/- 3 mg/liter; P < 0.05) and in IL-6 (4.4 +/- 2 to 3.3 +/- 2 ng/liter; P < 0.01). In the GH-treated group, the decrease in CRP and IL-6 correlated with a reduction in visceral adipose tissue (r = 0.7, P < 0.001 and r = 0.5, P < 0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GH treatment in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity reduced serum markers of systemic inflammation. Circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction were unaffected by treatment.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. celina.franco@medic.gu.se
authors: Celina
authors: C
authors: Franco
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Andersson
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Lönn
authors: Bengt-Ake
authors: BA
authors: Bengtsson
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Svensson
authors: Gudmundur
authors: G
authors: Johannsson
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D010919:Placebos; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein