Download PDF
Horm Metab Res 2010; 42(10): 740-745
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1255090
Humans, Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effects of Protein Ingestion on GH Concentrations in Visceral Obesity

A. J. A. H. van Vught1 , 2 , A. G. Nieuwenhuizen1 , 2 , M. A. B. Veldhorst1 , 2 , R. J. M. Brummer2 , 3 , M. S. Westerterp-Plantenga1 , 2
  • 1Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • 2TI Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands
  • 3School of Health and Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
Further Information

Publication History

received 05.04.2010

accepted 26.05.2010

Publication Date:
25 June 2010 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Growth hormone (GH), a hormone originating from the anterior pituitary gland, is an important regulator of metabolism and body composition. Low GH secretion is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome, in particular increased visceral body fat and decreased lean body mass. It has been shown that GH release can be promoted by ingestion of protein, in particular gelatin protein. The question remains; is the GH-promoting effect of gelatin protein also present in a population with blunted GH response, such as visceral obesity? 8 lean women (age: 23±3 years, BMI: 21.6±2.0 kg/m2) and 8 visceral obese women (age: 28±7 years, BMI: 33.8±5.5 kg/m2) were compared with regard to their 5-h GH response after oral ingestion of gelatin protein (0.6 g protein per kg bodyweight), placebo (water), or injection of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) (1 μ/kg body weight), in a randomized crossover design. GH response after placebo, gelatin protein, or GHRH was higher in lean subjects than in visceral obese subjects (p<0.05). Ingestion of gelatin protein increased GH response compared with placebo in both visceral obese (182.1±81.6 μg/l·5 h vs. 28.4±29.8 μg/l·5 h) and lean (631.7±144.2 μg/l·5 h vs. 241.0±196.8 μg/l·5 h) subjects (p<0.05). GH response after ingestion of gelatin protein in visceral obese did not differ from that in lean, placebo-treated subjects (p=0.45). GH concentrations after GHRH injection correlated significantly with GH concentrations after gelatin ingestion (AUC; r=0.71, p<0.01, Peak; r=0.81, p<0.01). Further research is needed to investigate if gelatin protein is able to improve metabolic abnormalities in hyposomatotropism in the long term or to investigate the relevance of protein as diagnostic tool in hyposomatotropism.

Key words

protein - GH - somatotropic axis - hyposomatotropism - visceral obesity

References

  • 1 Veldhuis JD, Roemmich JN, Richmond EJ, Rogol AD, Lovejoy JC, Sheffield-Moore M, Mauras N, Bowers CY. Endocrine control of body composition in infancy, childhood, and puberty.  Endocr Rev. 2005;  26 114-146
    Google Scholar
  • 2 Moller N, Jorgensen JO. Effects of Growth Hormone on Glucose, Lipid and Protein Metabolism in Human Subjects.  Endocr Rev. 2009;  30 152-177
    Google Scholar
  • 3 Dicker A, Astrom G, Wahlen K, Hoffstedt J, Naslund E, Wiren M, Ryden M, Arner P, van Harmelen V. Primary differences in lipolysis between human omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue observed using in vitro differentiated adipocytes.  Horm Metab Res. 2009;  41 350-355
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Carrel AL, Allen DB. Effects of growth hormone on adipose tissue.  J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2000;  13 (S 02) 1003-1009
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Gerver WJ, De Bruin R, Delemarre van der Waal HA, Aldewereld B, Theunissen P, Westerterp KR. Effects of discontinuation of growth hormone treatment on body composition and metabolism.  Horm Res. 2000;  53 215-220
    Google Scholar
  • 6 Wajchenberg BL. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue: their relation to the metabolic syndrome.  Endocr Rev. 2000;  21 697-738
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Utz AL, Yamamoto A, Hemphill L, Miller KK. Growth hormone deficiency by growth hormone releasing hormone-arginine testing criteria predicts increased cardiovascular risk markers in normal young overweight and obese women.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;  93 2507-2514
    Google Scholar
  • 8 Makimura H, Stanley T, Mun D, Chen C, Wei J, Connelly JM, Hemphill LC, Grinspoon SK. Reduced growth hormone secretion is associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness in obesity.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;  94 5131-5138
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Veldhuis JD, Iranmanesh A, Ho KK, Waters MJ, Johnson ML, Lizarralde G. Dual defects in pulsatile growth hormone secretion and clearance subserve the hyposomatotropism of obesity in man.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991;  72 51-59
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Clasey JL, Weltman A, Patrie J, Weltman JY, Pezzoli S, Bouchard C, Thorner MO, Hartman ML. Abdominal visceral fat and fasting insulin are important predictors of 24-hour GH release independent of age, gender, and other physiological factors.  J Clinical Endocrinol Metab. 2001;  86 3845-3852
    Google Scholar
  • 11 Cordido F, Dieguez C, Casanueva FF. Effect of central cholinergic neurotransmission enhancement by pyridostigmine on the growth hormone secretion elicited by clonidine, arginine, or hypoglycemia in normal and obese subjects.  J Clinical Endocrinol Metab. 1990;  70 1361-1370
    Google Scholar
  • 12 Hartman ML, Crowe BJ, Biller BM, Ho KK, Clemmons DR, Chipman JJ. Which patients do not require a GH stimulation test for the diagnosis of adult GH deficiency?.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;  87 477-485
    Google Scholar
  • 13 Vizner B, Reiner Z, Sekso M. Effect of l-dopa on growth hormone, glucose, insulin, and cortisol response in obese subjects.  Exp Clin Endocrinol. 1983;  81 41-48
    Google Scholar
  • 14 Makimura H, Stanley T, Mun D, You SM, Grinspoon S. The effects of central adiposity on growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing hormone-arginine stimulation testing in men.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;  93 4254-4260
    Google Scholar
  • 15 Buijs MM, Burggraaf J, Langendonk JG, Schoemaker RC, Frolich M, Arndt JW, Cohen AF, Romijn JA, Ackermans MT, Sauerwein HP, Meinders AE, Pijl H. Hyposomatotropism blunts lipolysis in abdominally obese women.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;  87 3851-3858
    Google Scholar
  • 16 de Boer H, Blok GJ, Van der Veen EA. Clinical aspects of growth hormone deficiency in adults.  Endocr Rev. 1995;  16 63-86
    Google Scholar
  • 17 Rosen T, Johannsson G, Johansson JO, Bengtsson BA. Consequences of growth hormone deficiency in adults and the benefits and risks of recombinant human growth hormone treatment.  A review paper. Horm Res. 1995;  43 93-99
    Google Scholar
  • 18 Vahl N, Jorgensen JO, Skjaerbaek C, Veldhuis JD, Orskov H, Christiansen JS. Abdominal adiposity rather than age and sex predicts mass and regularity of GH secretion in healthy adults.  Am J Physiol. 1997;  272 E1108-E1116
    Google Scholar
  • 19 Franco C, Brandberg J, Lonn L, Andersson B, Bengtsson BA, Johannsson G. Growth hormone treatment reduces abdominal visceral fat in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity: a 12-month placebo-controlled trial.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;  90 1466-1474
    Google Scholar
  • 20 Johannsson G, Marin P, Lonn L, Ottosson M, Stenlof K, Bjorntorp P, Sjostrom L, Bengtsson BA. Growth hormone treatment of abdominally obese men reduces abdominal fat mass, improves glucose and lipoprotein metabolism, and reduces diastolic blood pressure.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997;  82 727-734
    Google Scholar
  • 21 Chromiak JA, Antonio J. Use of amino acids as growth hormone-releasing agents by athletes.  Nutrition. 2002;  18 657-661
    Google Scholar
  • 22 Knopf RF, Conn JW, Fajans SS, Floyd JC, Guntsche EM, Rull JA. Plasma Growth Hormone Response To Intravenous Administration Of Amino Acids.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1965;  25 1140-1144
    Google Scholar
  • 23 Isidori A, Lo Monaco A, Cappa M. A study of growth hormone release in man after oral administration of amino acids.  Curr Med Res Opin. 1981;  7 475-481
    Google Scholar
  • 24 Collier SR, Casey DP, Kanaley JA. Growth hormone responses to varying doses of oral arginine.  Growth Horm IGF Res. 2005;  15 136-139
    Google Scholar
  • 25 Sizonenko PC, Clayton PE, Cohen P, Hintz RL, Tanaka T, Laron Z. Diagnosis and management of growth hormone deficiency in childhood and adolescence. Part 1: diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.  Growth Horm IGF Res. 2001;  11 137-165
    Google Scholar
  • 26 van Vught JAH, Nieuwenhuizen AG, Veldhorst MAB, Brummer RJM, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Somatotropic effects of soy-, gelatin-, alpha-lactalbumin- and milk protein.  Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010;  64 441-446
    Google Scholar
  • 27 van Vught JAH, Nieuwenhuizen AG, Gerver WJ, Veldhorst MAB, Brummer RJM, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Pharmacological and physiological growth hormone stimulation tests to predict successful GH therapy in children.  J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2009;  22 679-694
    Google Scholar
  • 28 Frystyk J, Grofte T, Skjaerbaek C, Orskov H. The effect of oral glucose on serum free insulin-like growth factor-1 and -11 in health adults.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997;  82 3124-3127
    Google Scholar
  • 29 Franco C, Bengtsson BA, Johannsson G. The GH/IGF-1 Axis in Obesity: Physiological and Pathological Aspects.  Metab Syndr Rel Disord. 2006;  4 51-56
    Google Scholar
  • 30 Nam SY, Lee EJ, Kim KR, Cha BS, Song YD, Lim SK, Lee HC, Huh KB. Effect of obesity on total and free insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, and their relationship to IGF-binding protein (BP)-1, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3, insulin, and growth hormone.  Int J Obes. 1997;  21 355-359
    Google Scholar
  • 31 Fineberg SE, Horland AA, Merimee TJ. Free fatty acid concentrations and growth hormone secretion in man.  Metabol Clin Exp. 1972;  21 491-498
    Google Scholar
  • 32 Iranmanesh A, Lizarralde G, Veldhuis JD. Age and relative adiposity are specific negative determinants of the frequency and amplitude of growth hormone (GH) secretory bursts and the half-life of endogenous GH in healthy men.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991;  73 1081-1088
    Google Scholar
  • 33 Abdul Shakoor SK, Shalet SM. Effects of GH replacement on metabolism and physical performance in GH deficient adults.  J Endocrinol Invest. 2003;  26 911-918
    Google Scholar
  • 34 Carrel AL, Allen DB. Effects of growth hormone on body composition and bone metabolism.  Endocrine. 2000;  12 163-1672
    Google Scholar
  • 35 Jorgensen JO, Pedersen SA, Thuesen L, Jorgensen J, Ingemann-Hansen T, Skakkebaek NE, Christiansen JS. Beneficial effects of growth hormone treatment in GH-deficient adults.  Lancet. 1989;  1 1221-1225
    Google Scholar
  • 36 Mekala KC, Tritos NA. Effects of recombinant human growth hormone therapy in obesity in adults: a meta analysis.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;  94 130-137
    Google Scholar
  • 37 Jacobs AJ, Odom MJ, Word RA, Carr BR. Effect of oral contraceptives on adrenocorticotropin and growth hormone secretion following CRH and GHRH administration.  Contraception. 1989;  40 691-699
    Google Scholar

Correspondence

A. J. A. H. van Vught

Department of Human Biology

Faculty of Health Medicine and

Life Sciences

Maastricht University

PO Box 616

6200 MD Maastricht

The Netherlands

Phone: +43/388 2124

Fax: +43/388 2124

Email: a.vanvught@hb.unimaas.nl

      >