Effect of triiodothyronine on some metabolic responses of obese patients

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Abstract
We have examined some responses of obese patients to triiodothyronine (T3) in three separate studies. Subjects treated with T3, 150 µg/day, showed a rise in oxygen uptake and the catabolism of fat and protein. Approximately 75% of the extra oxygen consumed could be accounted for by catabolism of fat. Yet breakdown of lean body mass produced nearly 80% of the weight loss. On an outpatient basis, 12 grossly obese patients were treated in a double-blind, randomized trial with either 225 µg triiodothyronine or with identically appearing placebo tablets for 1 month followed by a 2nd month of the opposite therapy. During the period on T3, there was an average rise of six beats/min in heart rate and a significant loss of weight. Radioactive iodine uptake and serum thyroxine were suppressed during T3 treatment, and the serum T3 concentrations were distinctly above normal. However, 6 of the 12 patients did not demonstrate clinical symptoms by which the period of treatment with T3 could be identified. As all patients had objective physiological changes, the use of clinical symptomatic responses may be an inadequate technique for evaluating the effects of thyroid hormone therapy.

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