EFFECTS OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE ON LEVELS OF BLOOD AND URINARY CARBOHYDRATE AND FAT METABOLITES IN MAN *

Abstract

In an accompanying paper (1) human growth hormo.ne (HGH) was reported to have stimulated the rate of linear growth, produced retention of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, so- dium and potassium, and perhaps increased the rate of fat mobilization in ten human subjects. This paper describes the response of blood and urinary levels of fat and carbohydrate intermediary metabolites in seven of these and in one infant with hyperinsulinism.1 Some effects of HGH on carbohydrate and fat metabolism have already been published. Raben and Hollenberg (2) observed a prompt and significant rise in plasma free fatty acids (FFA). Beck, McGarry, Dyrenfurth and Venning (3) re- ported alterations in glucose tolerance in four of six patients and Ikkos, Luft and Gemzell (4) in two of two patients. Ikkos and associates also observed elevations in ketone bodies in three of four patients. The data to be reported in general confirm these observations and include the simul- taneous measurements of blood and urinary glu- cose, lactate, pyruvate, citrate, a-ketoglutarate, free fatty acids and ketones during short and long- term HGH therapy.