Effects of the Thyromimetic Agent Diiodothyropropionic Acid on Body Weight, Body Mass Index, and Serum Lipoproteins: A Pilot Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

Context: Widespread thyroid hormone actions offer the possibility of developing selective thyromimetic analogs with salutary metabolic properties. Consequently, effects of diiodothyropropionic acid (DITPA) on body weight, serum lipoproteins, and bone metabolism markers were studied in a prospective, controlled, double-blind 24-wk trial, which was primarily designed to assess treatment of stable chronic heart failure. Design: Eighty-six patients (aged 66 ± 11 yr, mean ± sd) were randomized (1:2) to placebo or an escalating DITPA dose (90 to 180, 270, and 360 mg/d) over 8 wk until serum TSH was less than 0.02 mU/liter. Patients were studied at 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, and 24 wk and after 4 wk off study drug. Only 21 DITPA-treated and 27 placebo patients completed the full 24 wk of therapy. Results: DITPA therapy lowered serum TSH levels and, to a lesser extent, serum T3 and T4, but there were no differences in clinical manifestations of thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism. Serum total and low-density lipoprotein choles...