Growth Hormone Reduces Inflammation in Postmenopausal Women with Abdominal Obesity: A 12-Month, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Context: Abdominal obesity is associated with low GH secretion, elevated circulating markers of inflammation, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Objective: The objective was to study the effect of GH treatment on inflammatory markers and vascular adhesion molecules in postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity. Design: Forty women aged 51–63 yr received GH (0.67 mg/d) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-month trial. Measurements of inflammatory markers [highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, and amyloid polypeptideA] and markers of endothelial dysfunction (soluble E-selectin, vascular adhesion molecule-1, intercellular molecule-1, and matrix metalloproteinase-9) were performed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results: After 12 months, the mean IGF sd score was 0.9 ± 1.5 and −0.8 ± 0.6 in the GH and placebo groups, respectively. GH treatment reduced CRP and IL-6 levels compared with placebo (P = 0.03 and P = 0.05, respectively), whereas the markers...