Growth hormone reduces inflammation in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity: a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
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.
Franco
Celina
C
Department of Endocrinology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. celina.franco@medic.gu.se
Andersson
Björn
B
Lönn
Lars
L
Bengtsson
Bengt-Ake
BA
Svensson
Johan
J
Johannsson
Gudmundur
G
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
D015850:Interleukin-6; D010919:Placebos; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein