Oxandrolone May Prevent Loss of Lean Body Mass in Patients With Severe Burns

Oxandrolone is effective in preventing muscle catabolism, as a part of hypermetabolism, among patients with severe burns, researchers from Indonesia have found.

This randomized placebo-controlled trial included 14 patients with severe burns with an affected average total body surface area of more than 30%, who presented to the Dr Soetomo Hospital burn center in East Java, Indonesia, between June 2019 and September 2020.

Patients with an affected total body surface area of more than 20% have an increased risk of insulin resistance, myocardial oxygen consumption, and infection. Moreover, they have a higher risk for decreased protein synthesis and catabolic rates, with the most common rates shown in reduced lean body mass. Unregulated hypermetabolism could lead to multiorgan failure and eventually death.

The researchers found that treatment with oral oxandrolone, 0.1 mg/kg twice daily for 14 consecutive days improved the clinical outcomes of patients with severe burns by preventing loss of lean body mass during hospitalization compared with placebo. Oxandrolone was not associated with any adverse effects.

“This study showed that the administration of oxandrolone in severely burned patients could prevent loss of lean body mass as a promising choice to regulate hypermetabolism and is relatively safe,” the researchers concluded. “Estimated equation of [lean body mass] using anthropometric measurement is a low cost and practical method to assess [lean body mass]. Caution should be taken regards hepatic dysfunction by closely monitoring transaminase. Further research is needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of oxandrolone in clinical outcomes among Indonesian burn patients.”

Reference

Gusti NRL, Saputro ID, Rizaliyana S, Putra ON. Effects of oxandrolone on lean body mass (LBM) in severe burn patients: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2022;35(1):55-61. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9020845