Weight Loss-Independent Changes in Human Growth Hormone During Water-Only Fasting: A Secondary Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract
Introduction: Water-only fasting for one day or more may provide health benefits independent of weight loss. Human growth hormone (HGH) may play a key role in multiple fasting-triggered mechanisms. Whether HGH changes during fasting are independent of weight loss and how basal HGH and HGH change relate to other fasting-induced changes are unknown. Methods: Apparently healthy individuals (N=30) were randomized by Latin square to begin two days with either 24-hour water-only fasting or a control of 24-hour ad libitum eating. On day 2, subjects were crossed over to control (if day 1 was fasting) or fasting (if they ate on day 1). HGH, weight, and other parameters were measured at baseline and at the end of the first and second days. Results: Baseline HGH had median 0.50 ng/mL for females (n=20) and 0.04 ng/mL for males (n=10), and correlated inversely with weight, glucose, insulin, and triglycerides and positively with changes in insulin and HOMA-IR. The 24-hour fasting-induced HGH change was uncorrelated with weight loss (r= 0.01, p=0.98), but correlated with changes in glucose, HGB, and IGF-1. The percent increase in HGH was greater (p<0.001) for lower (females ≤0.15 ng/mL, males ≤0.05 ng/mL) vs. higher baseline HGH (median: 1,225% vs. 50.3%, respectively). Subjects with lower baseline HGH had a trend to greater reduction of HOMA-IR (median: −6.15 vs. −1.35 for lower vs. higher HGH, respectively, p=0.08). Conclusions: Fasting increased HGH and the HGH changes were independent of weight loss. Basal HGH and fasting-induced HGH changes correlated inversely with cardiometabolic risk factors.
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