Growth Hormone as a Determinant of Weight Regulation

Condition(s) targeted: Obesity

Intervention: overfeeding (Other); growth hormone treatment (Drug)

Phase: N/A

Status: Active, not recruiting

Sponsored by: University of Michigan

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Jeffrey F. Horowitz, PhD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: University of Michigan

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.

Official title: Growth Hormone as a Determinant of Weight Regulation.

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Diagnostic

Primary outcome:

24 Hour Average Plasma Growth Hormone Concentration

Changes in Body Weight

Baseline Whole Body Protein Turnover

Baseline Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis

Lipolytic Rate

Whole Body Protein Turnover After 2 Week Intervention

2 Week Skeletal Muscle Protein Synthesis

Changes in Fat Mass

Changes in Fat-free Mass

Detailed description: The susceptibility to gain weight is highly variable even when caloric intake and physical activity are well controlled. Because basal metabolic rate (BMR) represents ~70% of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), even a small difference in BMR can affect daily energy balance, thereby increasing the susceptibility for gaining weight. Our preliminary data indicate that high-normal growth hormone (GH) secretion is associated with resistance to weight-gain in rats when overfed and greater weight-loss in humans when underfed. Given that GH influences many of the key metabolic processes that contribute to BMR, the investigators hypothesize that persons with high-normal GH will be resistant to weight-gain because of a high BMR, resulting from accelerated rates of these processes. The investigators will measure basal 24h GH secretion and BMR in 106 non-obese men and women. The investigators will also measure protein synthesis, proteolysis, triglyceride/fatty acid cycling (all measured using stable isotope tracer methods) to determine the relationships among these processes, BMR, and GH [Specific Aim 1]. Subjects identified as having "low-normal" (<1. 5 ug/L) and "high-normal" (>3 ug/L) 24h GH will then be admitted to the hospital for a 2 wk

overfeeding protocol (~2000 kcal/d >TDEE - with restricted physical activity), immediately

followed by a 4 wk caloric restriction protocol (~750 kcal/d

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: 35 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria: 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 Exclusion Criteria:

- 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)

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States

Starting date: September 2005
Last updated: November 20, 2014