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ABSTRACT: Context
Children with obesity have low spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion. High circulating free fatty acid (FFA) concentration is believed to inhibit GH secretion in those with obesity. In adults, lipolytic inhibition with niacin lowers FFA and increases GH, but there are no prior studies in children with obesity.Objective
The objective of the study was to determine the dose and frequency of niacin administration required to lower FFA and stimulate GH in children with obesity.Design
Dose-finding study of nondiabetic children ages 6-12 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 95th percentile given niacin 250 mg q2h × 3 doses (n = 2), 500 mg q2h × 3 doses (n = 5) or 500 mg q1h × 4 doses (n = 5).Participants
Eight boys and four girls (age 9.7 ± 1.8 years; BMI 26.4 ± 3.1 kg m-2 ; BMIz 2.2 ± .25) were studied.Main outcome
Percentage of serum FFA values that were below 0.2 mEq L-1 . GH, insulin and glucose were also measured serially.Results
FFA decreased as the dose and frequency of niacin increased (p = .01). Niacin 500 mg q1h 4 doses suppressed FFA < 0.2 mEq L-1 and significantly increased GH (p = .04). Adverse effects were flushing/warmth (100%), tingling (60%) and GI complaints (20-40%).Conclusions
Niacin 500 mg q1h significantly lowered serum FFA and increased GH. These pilot data suggest that high FFA is an important suppressor of GH secretion in children with obesity.
SUBMITTER: Galescu OA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5360541 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Galescu O A OA Crocker M K MK Altschul A M AM Marwitz S E SE Brady S M SM Yanovski J A JA
Pediatric obesity 20160921 1
<h4>Context</h4>Children with obesity have low spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion. High circulating free fatty acid (FFA) concentration is believed to inhibit GH secretion in those with obesity. In adults, lipolytic inhibition with niacin lowers FFA and increases GH, but there are no prior studies in children with obesity.<h4>Objective</h4>The objective of the study was to determine the dose and frequency of niacin administration required to lower FFA and stimulate GH in children with obe ...[more]