EFFECT OF LEVODOPA (L-DOPA) ON HUMAN HYPOPHYSEAL TROPHIC HORMONE RELEASE1

Single oral dose increments of levodopa (250, 500, and 1,000 mg, given on 3 consecutive days) produced significant peak levels of immunoreactive growth hormone (HGH) in 7 hospitalized healthy males. Serum glucose, cortisol, immunoreactive insulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were not altered significantly. Levodopa has great potential as a provocative agent for stimulating growth hormone release.