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Effects of Megestrol Acetate on Circulating Interleukin-15 and Interleukin-18 Concentrations in Healthy Elderly Men

¹ Nutrition, Metabolism, and Exercise Laboratory, Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock.
² Wastl Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Leisure Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Charles P. Lambert, PhD, Nutrition, Metabolism, and Exercise Laboratory, Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205. E-mail: lambertcharlesp{at}uams.edu

Background. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) are potential regulators of body composition in humans. The authors previously reported that megestrol acetate ingestion causes a large accumulation of adipose tissue and reduces muscle mass. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of megestrol acetate ingestion on circulating IL-15 and IL-18 concentrations in healthy elderly men.

Methods. All participants received 800 mg of megestrol acetate per day during this 12-week study. Megestrol acetate was combined with testosterone injections (100mg/week), placebo injections, resistance training, or resistance training and testosterone. Resting IL-15 and IL-18 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at week 0 (pre), week 6 (mid), and week 12 (post).

Results. The time effect for IL-15 was significant (p =.0008), with the mid and post values being significantly greater than the pre value. The change in IL-15 concentration was not significantly related to the change in muscle mass (r = –.31; p >.05), nor was it related to the change in fat mass (r =.17; p >.05). Differences among groups or over time were not significant for IL-18, nor were correlations between pre body weight and pre IL-18 (r = –.03), pre fat mass and pre IL-18 (r =.14), or the change in fat mass and the change in IL-18 (r = –.07).

Conclusions. IL-15 was increased as a result of megestrol acetate ingestion; however, megestrol acetate did not affect circulating IL-18 concentrations, and the change in IL-18 did not correlate with any body composition variables.