title: A pilot study of the effects of niacin administration on free fatty acid and growth hormone concentrations in children with obesity.
abstract: Children with obesity have low spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion. High circulating free fatty acid (FFA) concentration is believed to inhibit GH secretion in those with obesity. In adults, lipolytic inhibition with niacin lowers FFA and increases GH, but there are no prior studies in children with obesity.
  
  
  
  The objective of the study was to determine the dose and frequency of niacin administration required to lower FFA and stimulate GH in children with obesity.
  
  
  
  Dose-finding study of nondiabetic children ages 6-12 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile given niacin 250 mg q2h × 3 doses (n = 2), 500 mg q2h × 3 doses (n = 5) or 500 mg q1h × 4 doses (n = 5).
  
  
  
  Eight boys and four girls (age 9.7 ± 1.8 years; BMI 26.4 ± 3.1 kg m-2; BMIz 2.2 ± .25) were studied.
  
  
  
  Percentage of serum FFA values that were below 0.2 mEq L-1. GH, insulin and glucose were also measured serially.
  
  
  
  FFA decreased as the dose and frequency of niacin increased (p = .01). Niacin 500 mg q1h 4 doses suppressed FFA < 0.2 mEq L-1and significantly increased GH (p = .04). Adverse effects were flushing/warmth (100%), tingling (60%) and GI complaints (20-40%).
  
  
  
  Niacin 500 mg q1h significantly lowered serum FFA and increased GH. These pilot data suggest that high FFA is an important suppressor of GH secretion in children with obesity.
authors.affiliation: Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Galescu
authors.affiliation: Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda, USA.|Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Crocker
authors.affiliation: Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Altschul
authors.affiliation: Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Marwitz
authors.affiliation: Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Section on Growth and Obesity, Program in Developmental Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yanovski
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D009525:Niacin; D013006:Growth Hormone
keywords: adipose tissue; free fatty acids; growth hormone; lipolysis; obesity; somatotropin