F. Armellini et al., Resting energy expenditure, growth hormone indices, body composition and adipose tissue distribution in premenopausal women, J INTERN M, 247(6), 2000, pp. 709-714
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
General & Internal Medicine","Medical Research General Topics
Objectives. A significant growth hormone (GH) contribution to interindividu
al variance in energy expenditure (REE) in women can be hypothesized. The p
resent study examines the independent association between physiological lev
els of GH function indices and REE.
Setting. All subjects were hospitalized in the Institute of Internal Medici
ne of the University of Verona.
Subjects. Twenty-four premenopausal overweight (BMI = 28-55 kg m(-2)) women
aged 18-49 years.
Interventions. REE was estimated by indirect calorimetry and body compositi
on and fat distribution by single slice computed tomography method. GH acti
vity and GH status were determined by measuring serum levels of insulin-lik
e growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3
(IGFBP-3).
Results. GH indices did not show any significant correlation with REE. The
relation between GH indices and REE was also examined by multiple regressio
n analysis to account for possible confounders such as body composition, ad
ipose tissue distribution and age. When body composition was considered, bo
dy fat and fat-free mass were the only significant predictors of REE (R-2 =
0.699, P = 0.0001). The contributions of GH indices were not significant.
Conclusions. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that GH in physiolo
gical conditions could be an independent determinant of REE in women with o
besity.