Effect of Methandienone on Free Fatty Acid and Triglyceride Turnover in Normal Females

Abstract

The effect of methandienone therapy on the concentration, turnover and removal rates of serum triglyceride have been studied in premenopausal women by endogenous labelling of triglyceride during a ¹⁴C palmitate infusion. Fifteen women served as controls, of whom five were also studied following a minimum of four weeks therapy.

Treatment with methandienone was associated with a marked increase in triglyceride turnover. At the same time, there was accelerated triglyceride clearance associated with a significant increase in plasma post-heparin lipolytic activity. The resulting serum triglyceride concentration during therapy remained within the normal range although there was a significant increase following the introduction of methandienone. The observed increase in the triglyceride turnover was not associated with a concordant change in either free fatty acid concentration or free fatty acid turnover rate. Triglyceride turnover and plasma post-heparin lipolytic activity were significantly correlated with the peak plasma insulin responses during a standard oral glucose tolerance test.

Key words

Free Fatty Acid (FFA) - Triglyceride (TG) - Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) - Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) - Post-Heparin Lipolytic Activity (PHLA) - Hypertriglyceridemia - Turnover Rate - Methandienone

1 Present address: Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W. 12, England.