Growth Hormone as a Determinant of Weight Regulation

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obesity

In brief

With the alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity, identifying factors that predispose individuals to weight-gain is of critical importance. Even when caloric intake and physical activity levels are well controlled, susceptibility for weight-gain is heterogeneous. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) represents the largest portion of daily energy expenditure in normal adults, and as such, variability in BMR among individuals can be a major factor in determining the susceptibility for gaining weight. However, factors responsible for this variability in BMR and resistance to weight-gain remain unclear. Our preliminary data indicate that high-normal growth hormone (GH) concentration is associated with resistance to weight-gain in rats when overfed and greater weight-loss in humans when underfed. In addition, the investigators have found that the pulsatility of GH secretion has profound effects on several metabolic processes. Therefore, together these findings suggest that endogenous GH secretion is associated with body weight regulation, and the pulsatility (peak amplitude) of GH secretion, rather than the absolute GH concentration, per se, may be responsible for this effect. Because GH influences many of the key metabolic processes that contribute to BMR (e.g.; protein synthesis, proteolysis, substrate cycling), the investigators anticipate that the resistance to weight-gain in persons with elevated GH concentrations will be associated with an increase in BMR due to acceleration of some or all of these processes. Our overall hypothesis is that increased GH secretion can protect against weight-gain due to an augmentation of major metabolic processes that contribute to BMR. Identifying factors responsible for predisposing individuals to weight-gain will lead to establishing improved methods for reducing the prevalence of obesity.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00355784

Run by

University of Michigan

People needed

24

Starts

2005-09-01

Expected to finish

2015-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2016-01-01

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age = 21-35 years Weight stable (< ± 5 pound over past 6 months) Premenopausal (women only) Body mass index 18 - 26 kg/m2 Must be willing to be randomized to receive GH infusion during 2 week Michigan Clinical Research Unit (MCRU) visit

You may not qualify if…

• Evidence of metabolic or cardiovascular disease Pregnancy (women only) Hyperlipidemia (fasting plasma triglyceride concentration > 150 mg/dl) Hematocrit < 34% Liver Function test abnormalities participating in a regular exercise program (> 2 h/week) taking any prescription medication (except birth control)

Where it is running

• University of Michigan — Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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