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Postprandial triglyceride profile after a standardized oral fat load is altered in growth hormone ( GH )‐deficient adult patients and is not improved after short‐term GH replacement therapy
Author(s) -
Perotti Mario,
Caumo Andrea,
Brunani Amelia,
Cambiaghi Nadia,
Casati Marco,
Scacchi Massimo,
Perra Silvia,
Rocco Cristina,
Mancia Giuseppe,
Grassi Guido,
Cavagnini Francesco,
Pincelli Angela Ida
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04416.x
Subject(s) - postprandial , medicine , endocrinology , triglyceride , lipid metabolism , meal , lipid profile , cholesterol , insulin
Summary Objective Adult growth hormone deficiency ( GHD ) has detrimental effects on metabolic profile, leading to an increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Above all, disturbance in postprandial triglyceride metabolism is of major concern because of the crucial role of triglyceride‐rich lipoproteins in atherogenesis. The majority of previous studies on GH replacement have shown favourable changes in the fasting lipid profile. Aim of this study is to investigate whether this beneficial effect is exerted also on postprandial triglyceride ( TG ) metabolism. Patients and methods We challenged nine GHD patients with a standardized fat loading meal at baseline and after 6 months of GH replacement therapy. Nine healthy control subjects were similarly tested under baseline conditions. Blood samples were obtained before and up to 8 h after fat loading for serum lipid analysis. Results We found that GHD patients with fasting TG level in the normal range (1·29 ± 0·31 m m ) had a delayed postprandial TG clearance compared to healthy controls (triglyceride level at 8 h, 3·82 ± 0·83 vs 1 ± 0·06 m m P < 0·01), and the postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia was not corrected by 6 months of GH therapy. Conclusions This study has shown for the first time that GHD adult patients have a higher postprandial triglyceridaemia compared to healthy controls when challenged by a standardized fat load and that this atherogenic feature is not normalized by short‐term GH treatment despite a decrease in visceral fat mass described during the replacement therapy.