Influence of exogenous human growth hormone on the metabolism of fasting obese patients

Abstract

Three obese female patients were investigated during three courses of starvation. In two of them these periods lasted 12 days; in one 6 days. During the second starvation period HGH was administered on alternate days in a dosage of 10 mg. Plasma values of FFA, hydroxybutyric acid, insulin, electrolytes, glucose, HCO3, and the pH were determined. In addition, a complete balance study of nitrogen, calcium, phosphate, Na, and K was done. In none of these cases HGH led to increased ketoacidosis. The rise of hydroxybutyric acid, as well as the decrease of HCO3 and of the pH, was in one of the patients even less during HGH administration than during control periods. This patient showed an elevation of plasma insulin during HGH administration. The possibility is considered that growth hormone, by virtue of its stimulating action on pancreatic insulin secretion, might counteract the acidosis of starvation. The balance studies showed that during HGH there was less excretion of Na and K, but no other effects were demonstrable.