title: Growth hormone-releasing effects of whole body vibration alone or combined with squatting plus external load in severely obese female subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whole body vibration (WBV) has been reported to exert growth hormone(GH)-releasing effects in healthy subjects. Despite the potential of WBV to positively affect body composition changes via lipolytic effects, few studies have been performed in obese subjects to date.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated the acute effects of WBV alone or in combination with squatting plus external load (WBV+S) on serum GH levels and blood lactate concentrations in 7 severely obese women (age 22 ± 5 years; BMI 39.9 ± 2.9 kg/m2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  WBV and WBV+S determined a significant GH increase (mean GH peaks 5.1 ± 1.9 ng/ml, p < 0.001 vs. basal, and 6.5 ± 3.7 ng/ml, p < 0.001 vs. basal, respectively), GH peaks occurring immediately after both exercise sessions. No significant differences were observed between GH peaks and GH net incremental area under the curve (nAUC) after both conditions (p = 0.39 and p = 0.53, respectively), the whole pattern of GH responsiveness being comparable among all the subjects. Lactate concentrations increased after both conditions (mean lactate peaks 2.0 ± 0.5 mmol/l, p < 0.05 vs. basal, and 4.5 ± 2.0 mmol/l, p < 0.001 vs. basal, respectively). The lactate response was significantly higher after WBV+S than after WBV (p < 0.05). Baseline GH and GH peak values positively correlated to baseline lactate and lactate peak concentrations in both conditions (R(2) = 0.64, p < 0.001, and R2 = 0.52, p < 0.05, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WBV alone stimulates GH release and lactate production in severely obese female subjects, with no additive effect when combined with squatting plus external load. Further additional studies are required to verify the chronic effects of WBV exercise on the GH/IGF-1 system, which could represent a potentially effective approach for weight management in obese subjects.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Laboratorio Sperimentale di Ricerche Auxo-endocrinologiche, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Marialuisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giunta
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: Fiorenza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agosti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patrizi
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Compri
authors.forename: Antonello E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rigamonti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartorio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D055070:Resistance Training; D014732:Vibration; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D019344:Lactic Acid