Fatty liver disease is an increasing problem in overweight and obese young adults. The purpose of this study is to test the effect of growth hormone on liver fat in obese young adults ages 18-29y with increased liver fat.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant health problem in obese adolescents. Obese children and adolescents have significant reductions in growth hormone secretion, and we hypothesize that augmenting growth hormone in this population will decrease liver fat. Growth hormone inhibits hepatic de novo lipogenesis, which is an important source of hepatic lipid. Patients with pituitary GH deficiency have a higher prevalence of NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) than the general population, and replacement of GH in these individuals reduces signs of liver damage. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that growth hormone treatment will decrease liver fat quantity in young adults who begin the trial with more than 5% liver fat measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
24
Norditropin (growth hormone) given by injection using a pen-device
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Change in Hepatic Fat Fraction
change in hepatic fat fraction between baseline and 24 weeks as measured by hydrogen magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Time frame: 24 weeks
Change in Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
change in AST between baseline and 24 weeks
Time frame: 24 weeks
Change in Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
change in ALT between baseline and 24 weeks
Time frame: 24 weeks
Change in Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
change in GGT between baseline and 24 weeks
Time frame: 24 weeks
Change in Visceral Adipose Tissue
Change in visceral adipose tissue cross-sectional area at the 4th lumbar vertebra as measured by magnetic resonance imaging between baseline and 24 weeks
Time frame: 24 weeks
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