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Lipolytic Effects of GH in Hypopituitary Patients in Vivo

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Hypopituitarism
Insulin Resistance
Endocrine System Diseases
Glucose Metabolism Disorders
Metabolic Diseases
Pituitary Diseases
Brain Diseases
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Other: GH pause
Drug: GH substitution
Registration Number
NCT02782208
Lead Sponsor
University of Aarhus
Brief Summary

Growth hormone (GH) is essential for longitudinal bone growth and somatic development. These protein anabolic effects require sufficient nutritional supply. During fasting and caloric restriction GH predominantly promotes fat metabolism.

GH counteracts the effect of insulin in many tissues, of which insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle has been most extensively studied. Substrate competition between elevated free fatty acids and glucose is suggested as a mechanism, and this hypothesis can be tested mechanistically by means of acipimox, which is a nicotinic acid that suppresses the fat metabolizing effects of GH.

The hypothesis is, that the suppressive effect of GH on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is obviated by acipimox-induced inhibition of fat metabolism.

In order to investigate this, eight adult hypopituitary patients with documented GH-deficiency will be studied in the presence and absence of GH and acipimox, respectively, and biopsies from skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue will be analyzed.

Knowledge of the effects of growth hormone and fat metabolism can in shot-sight as well as in long-sight have great importance for the understanding of growth disorders from overweight and type 2 diabetes to malnutrition and eating disorders.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
9
Inclusion Criteria
  • hypopituitary patients with documented GH-deficiency
Exclusion Criteria
  • other significant disease

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Acipimox/GH pauseGH pauseDrug: Acipimox Tablet Acipimox 250 mg administered 4 times previous to and during the investigation day Other Name: Tablet Olbetam 250 mg Pause GH substitution to days prior to the study day.
Acipimox/GH substitutionGH substitutionDrug: Acipimox Tablet Acipimox 250 mg administered 4 times previous to and during the investigation day Other Name: Tablet Olbetam 250 mg Continue GH substitution as usually.
Placebo/GH substitutionPlaceboDrug: Placebo tablets Continue GH substitution as usually.
Placebo/GH substitutionGH substitutionDrug: Placebo tablets Continue GH substitution as usually.
Placebo/GH pausePlaceboDrug: Placebo tablets Pause GH substitution to days prior to the study day.
Placebo/GH pauseGH pauseDrug: Placebo tablets Pause GH substitution to days prior to the study day.
Acipimox/GH substitutionAcipimoxDrug: Acipimox Tablet Acipimox 250 mg administered 4 times previous to and during the investigation day Other Name: Tablet Olbetam 250 mg Continue GH substitution as usually.
Acipimox/GH pauseAcipimoxDrug: Acipimox Tablet Acipimox 250 mg administered 4 times previous to and during the investigation day Other Name: Tablet Olbetam 250 mg Pause GH substitution to days prior to the study day.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Lipolytic activity measured as area under the curve (AUC) for FFA (free fatty acid) before and during clamp-conditions.1 year
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Insulin sensitivity as measured by M value and GIR (glucose infusion rate)6 months
GH signaling proteins and gene targets in adipose and skeletal muscle tissues measured by western blotting and qPCR1,5 years
Substrate metabolism as measured by indirect calorimetry, tritiated glucose and circulating hormones and metabolites1 year
PDH (pyruvate dehydrogenase) activity in skeletal muscle measured by an PDH activity assay1 year

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University Hospital of Aarhus

🇩🇰

Aarhus, Denmark

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