Hormonal
Long-term (9 months) recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment in men with abdominal/visceral obesity reduces visceral and subcutaneous fat mass, improves insulin sensitivity, lowers total cholesterol and triglycerides, and reduces diastolic blood pressure.
For men with central obesity, long-term GH therapy (under medical supervision) can significantly reduce visceral fat and improve metabolic health markers like cholesterol and blood pressure, despite potential initial side effects that often resolve with dose adjustment.
This trial has demonstrated that GH can favorably affect some of the multiple perturbations associated with abdominal/visceral obesity. This includes a reduction in abdominal/visceral obesity, an improved insulin sensitivity, and favorable effects on lipoprotein metabolism and diastolic blood pressure.
Why this rating
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, though with a relatively small sample size (n=30) and potential confounding from concurrent medications in a subset of patients.
Source
Growth Hormone Treatment of Abdominally Obese Men Reduces Abdominal Fat Mass, Improves Glucose and Lipoprotein Metabolism, and Reduces Diastolic Blood Pressure<sup>1</sup>
Gudmundur Johannsson et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 1997
DOI 10.1210/jcem.82.3.3809
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