Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in obese subjects with reduced growth hormone secretion: a randomized controlled trial.
Makimura. Hideo H; Feldpausch. Meghan N MN; Rope. Alison M AM; Hemphill. Linda C LC; Torriani. Martin M; Lee. Hang H; Grinspoon. Steven K SK
Key Findings
- Visceral fat dropped about 35 cm² more than placebo (≈16% reduction)
- Triglycerides fell ~37 mg/dL and CRP decreased, indicating better metabolic health
- Carotid intima‑media thickness improved, suggesting reduced cardiovascular risk
- IGF‑1 rose sharply, confirming GH axis activation
- No impact on fasting or 2‑hour glucose or HbA1c
Practical Outcomes
- Tesamorelin at 2 mg daily appears to be a safe way to target stubborn visceral fat and improve heart‑health markers without harming glucose control. Biohackers interested in body‑composition and longevity could consider it as a GH‑boosting alternative, especially if they have low GH activity, but should monitor IGF‑1 and cardiovascular metrics and be aware it’s a prescription peptide requiring medical supervision.
Summary
In a year‑long trial, daily 2 mg tesamorelin (a growth‑hormone‑releasing factor) cut belly‑deep visceral fat, lowered triglycerides, C‑reactive protein and carotid artery thickness, while leaving blood sugar unchanged and causing no serious side effects.
Abstract
Obesity is associated with reduced GH secretion and increased cardiovascular disease risk. We performed this study to determine the effects of augmenting endogenous GH secretion on body composition and cardiovascular disease risk indices in obese subjects with reduced GH secretion. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed involving 60 abdominally obese subjects with reduced GH secretion. Subjects received tesamorelin, a GHRH(1-44) analog, 2 mg once daily, or placebo for 12 months. Abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was assessed by abdominal computed tomography scan, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was assessed by ultrasound. Treatment effect was determined by longitudinal linear mixed-effects modeling. VAT [-16 ± 9 vs.19 ± 9 cm(2), tesamorelin vs. placebo; treatment effect (95% confidence interval): -35 (-58, -12) cm(2); P = 0.003], cIMT (-0.03 ± 0.01 vs. 0.01 ± 0.01 mm; -0.04 (-0.07, -0.01) mm; P = 0.02), log C-reactive protein (-0.17 ± 0.04 vs. -0.03 ± 0.05 mg/liter; -0.15 (-0.30, -0.01) mg/liter, P = 0.04), and triglycerides (-26 ± 16 vs. 12 ± 8 mg/dl; -37 (-67, -7) mg/dl; P = 0.02) improved significantly in the tesamorelin group vs. placebo. No significant effects on abdominal sc adipose tissue (-6 ± 6 vs. 3 ± 11 cm(2); -10 (-32, +13) cm(2); P = 0.40) were seen. IGF-I increased (86 ± 21 vs. -6 ± 8 μg/liter; 92 (+52, +132) μg/liter; P < 0.0001). No changes in fasting, 2-h glucose, or glycated hemoglobin were seen. There were no serious adverse events or differences in adverse events between the groups. Among obese subjects with relative reductions in GH, tesamorelin selectively reduces VAT without significant effects on sc adipose tissue and improves triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and cIMT, without aggravating glucose.
Study Information
pubmed
2012
2012-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
10.1210/jc.2012-2794
47
41