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Background Obesity is associated with relative growth hormone (GH) deficiency and increased fracture risk. We hypothesized that GH administration would improve bone endpoints in individuals with overweight/obesity. Methods 77 adults ages 18-65 years, BMI ≥25 kg/m2, and BMD T- or Z-score ≤ -1.0 were randomized in a double-blind protocol to daily subcutaneous GH or placebo for 18 months, targeting IGF-1 in the upper quartile of the age-appropriate normal range. There was a post-treatment observation period from 18-24 months. DXA and high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT were performed at baseline, 18 months and 24 months. Volumetric quantitative CT was performed at baseline and 18 months. Results are reported as mean ±SD or mean (95% confidence interval). Results There were no pretreatment differences between the GH (n=39) and placebo groups (n=38), including mean age (48±12y), BMI (33.1±5.7kg/m2) and BMD at any site. Forty-nine subjects (47% female) completed 18 months. P1NP, osteocalcin and CTX increased (p Conclusions We demonstrated that GH administration for 18 months to individuals with overweight/obesity and low BMD decreased some measures of BMD, bone microarchitecture, and bone strength compared with placebo. None of these differences remained significant after 6 months off therapy. A longer duration of treatment, or a longer duration of observation post-treatment, may be necessary to see the expected biphasic decline and then increase in BMD reflecting an expanding remodeling space followed by mineralization that has previously been seen with GH administration in other populations, including individuals with and without GH deficiency. Although future investigation of the effects of GH on bone is required to assess the true long-term impact on skeletal integrity as well as fracture reduction, our study suggests that GH administration for 18 months to adults with overweight/obesity does not improve BMD, bone microarchitecture, or bone strength. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:12 p.m. - 1:17 p.m.

Female athletes with low energy availability are at risk for impaired bone microarchitecture and strength associated with hypogonadism. Data are lacking for bone outcomes in male athletes. We studied 31 men 16-30 years (n=15 runners with mean (±SD) mileage 43±4 miles/week, n=16 non-athlete controls). We assessed distal tibia and radius volumetric BMD (vBMD) and microarchitecture by high resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HRpQCT), estimated bone strength by microfinite element analysis and body composition by DXA. Testosterone, estradiol (by LC-MS) and leptin (by electrochemiluminescence) were measured. Groups did not differ for mean age (24.5±3.6y), BMI (22.2±2.6 kg/m2), lean mass, or testosterone or estradiol levels. Mean tibial cortical vBMD was lower and porosity higher in athletes than controls (p21 kg/m2 (p=0.007). Lean mass (R=0.85, p Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:36 p.m. - 12:41 p.m.

Low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk are common complications of anorexia nervosa. We assessed whether 12 months of alendronate subsequent to 12 months of denosumab would 1) maintain the increases in BMD observed with denosumab and 2) result in higher BMD than alendronate for 12 months alone in 30 ambulatory women with anorexia nervosa and areal BMD (aBMD) Z- or T-score At baseline, mean age [29±8 y (mean±SD)], BMI (18.6±1.9 kg/m2), and aBMD (PA lumbar spine Z-score -1.6±1.1) were similar between groups. From 12 to 24 months in the denosumab-to-alendronate group, favorable changes in spine aBMD, radial vBMD, and radial and tibial microarchitecture from 12 months of denosumab were maintained after 12 months of alendronate. However, there was a rebound increase in markers of bone turnover (p In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that 12 months of alendronate maintains BMD gains achieved with 12 months of denosumab administration in some, but not all, women with anorexia nervosa. A more robust response to denosumab may be a risk factor for partial reversal of denosumab-related BMD gains despite alendronate. Therefore, a more effective antiresorptive agent may be necessary to maintain gains in BMD achieved with denosumab therapy in some women with anorexia nervosa. Moreover, sequential therapy of denosumab followed by alendronate over 24 months results in greater improvements in tibial vBMD and microarchitecture than 12 months of alendronate, although increases in aBMD were similar between groups. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday, June 13, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.

While anorexia nervosa is associated with impaired skeletal integrity, less is known about the skeletal effects of atypical anorexia nervosa, in which psychological criteria for anorexia nervosa are met, but affected individuals are not low weight. Mean bone mineral density (BMD) is higher in atypical anorexia nervosa than in low-weight anorexia nervosa but lower than in healthy controls. However, it is unknown whether bone microarchitecture and strength are affected. We hypothesized that bone microarchitecture and estimated strength would be impaired in women with atypical anorexia nervosa. This was a cross-sectional study of women ages 21-46 years (n=55): n=28 with atypical anorexia nervosa (body mass index (BMI) >18.5 kg/m2), n=27 healthy, normal weight, eumenorrheic controls. Exclusion criteria included use of oral contraceptives. Areal BMD (aBMD) was assessed by DXA. Volumetric BMD (vBMD), microarchitecture, and failure load (a bone strength estimate) at the distal tibia and radius were assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT. Median(IQR) BMI was lower [19.4(18.6,20.2) vs 22.2(21.5,23.0), p Median lateral spine, total hip, femoral neck, and total radius aBMD Z-scores were lower in atypical anorexia nervosa than healthy controls [lateral spine: -1.1(-2.0,-0.1) vs -0.4(-0.7,0.4), total hip: -0.8(-1.3,0.2) vs 0.2(-0.4,0.7), femoral neck: -0.9(-1.4,0.1) vs -0.1(-0.9,0.6), radius: -0.2(-0.9,0.3) vs 0.1(-0.4,0.6); p≤0.04 for all]. At the tibia, median total, cortical, and trabecular vBMD; cortical thickness; trabecular bone volume fraction; and failure load were lower in atypical anorexia nervosa than healthy controls (p Conclusions We demonstrate that, despite normal weight, women with atypical anorexia nervosa have impaired vBMD, microarchitecture, and estimated strength compared to healthy controls, with differences more pronounced at the weight-bearing tibia vs non-weight-bearing radius. Individuals with amenorrhea had additional impairments in the non-weight-bearing radius, suggesting an effect of systemic estrogen deficiency. Our data suggest that current normal weight is not protective against impaired bone structure and strength in atypical anorexia nervosa. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:30 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.

Background Overweight/obesity are associated with relative growth hormone (GH) deficiency, and GH deficiency has been implicated in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD and its progressive form, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and no approved therapies currently exist. We hypothesized that GH administration would reduce hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis in individuals with overweight/obesity and NAFLD. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of GH administration in adults with overweight/obesity and NAFLD was conducted (NCT02217345). Fifty-three adults ages 18-70 years with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and NAFLD were randomly assigned to receive daily subcutaneous GH or placebo for 6 months. Target IGF-1 was upper quartile of normal. Primary endpoints included intrahepatic lipid content (IHL) by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and radiographic inflammation and fibrosis by LiverMultiScan corrected T1 score (cT1). Secondary endpoints included alanine transaminase (ALT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), hsCRP and HOMA-IR. Data are reported as mean ± SD. Results Forty-one subjects completed the 6-month study. Mean age (45±12 years), BMI (33±5 kg/m2), sex distribution (50% female) and baseline IHL (21.4±14.5%) did not differ between the GH and placebo groups. Over the 6-month study period, there was no difference in change in weight between the groups (GH -0.7±3.8% and placebo -0.6±4.0%, p=0.7). Change in absolute percent IHL was significantly greater in the GH vs placebo group (-5.1±10.5% vs 3.8±6.9%, p=0.003), resulting in a net treatment effect of an 8.9% reduction in IHL (95% CI 3.3-14.6%). Improvements in serum ALT (-10±13 IU/L vs -2±12 IU/L, p=0.009) and cT1 score (-11±63 ms vs 27±57 ms, p=0.037) were greater in the GH vs placebo group. There were also significant reductions in DEXA VAT area (-10±9 cm2 vs 0±20 cm2, p=0.050) and hsCRP (-0.8±0.9 mg/dL vs -0.3±1.7 mg/dL, p=0.017) in the GH vs placebo group. In multivariable models controlling for age, sex, change in weight and change in HOMA-IR, significant effects of GH vs placebo were observed on IHL (p=0.012) and ALT (p=0.015) with a trend towards improvement in cT1 score (p=0.088). In a secondary analysis excluding all subjects with >3% weight loss, which has been shown to independently impact NAFLD outcomes, there were significant improvements in IHL (p=0.001), ALT (p=0.040) and cT1 score (p=0.050) in the GH vs placebo group. No subjects were discontinued due to hyperglycemia (fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥6.5%). Mild edema was the only treatment-emergent side effect that had a significantly greater incidence in the GH vs placebo group (19% vs 0%, p=0.048). Conclusion GH administration reduces hepatic steatosis and markers of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in adults with overweight/obesity and NAFLD. The GH/IGF-1 axis may offer targetable therapeutic options for NAFLD/NASH. Presentation: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.