title: A weekly administered sustained-release growth hormone reduces visceral fat and waist circumference in abdominal obesity.
abstract: Administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in obesity has been known to lead to a decrease in visceral adiposity and an increase in lean body mass. Most studies have used supraphysiological doses of rhGH, which were administered daily or every other day. We aimed to evaluate whether weekly administered low dose of sustained-release rhGH (SR-rhGH) could play a therapeutic role in the treatment of abdominal obesity. Prospective, single-arm, open-label, multicenter pilot study was carried out. Participants were 26 adults aged 40-65 years old with abdominal obesity (male: waist circumference >90 cm, female: waist circumference >85 cm). The subjects were given 3 mg of SR-rhGH, administered subcutaneously, weekly for 26 weeks. SR-rhGH treatment for 26 weeks increased the IGF-1 level by 56.53±76.09 μg/l (SDS 0.77±1.12) compared to the baseline (p=0.0022). After 26 weeks, SR-rhGH treatment reduced abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (140.35±75.97 to 128.43±73.85 cm2, p=0.0038). Average waist circumference decreased from 96.25±6.41 to 91.93±6.13 cm (p<0.0001) after treatment. However, body weight or lean body mass did not show any significant change. In conclusion, SR-rhGH treatment for 26 weeks reduced abdominal visceral fat and waist circumference without severe adverse events. Further studies may be considered on the role of weekly administered SR-rhGH as a treatment for abdominal obesity.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: C-Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Y-S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D019382:Human Growth Hormone