Serum insulin, growth hormone and gastrin levels in children with growth and body weight disorders
Smyk, J.; Smyk, J.; Smyk, I.
Pediatria Polska 62(7): 476-484
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-3939 PMID: 3320920 Document Number: 292191
The study included 98 boys and 85 girls aged 7.sbd.15 years with deficiency of growth and body weight of unknown aetiology. The maternal health, the environment and socioeconomic conditions were analysed with positive results. In the assessment of the physical development of children the graphic method of percentile grid was used. In group of boys growth deficiency was from 4.8 .+-. 1.6 to 13.8 .+-. 2.6 cm and in girls from 3.2 .+-. 0.8 to 12.6 .+-. 2.0 cm. Body weight deficiency was in boys from 4.9 .+-. 1.6 to 11.7 .+-. 3.4 kg, and in girls from 5.0 .+-. 11 to 10.5 .+-. 2.4 kg. The serum levels of glucose, insulin, growth hormone and gastrin were determined in fasting state and after oral administration of a glucose solution (1.7 g/kg in 200 ml of water) after 30 and 60 minutes. The blood glucose level was determined by Harting's method, and the serum hormone level by radioimmunoassay. The obtained results of determinations in fasting state and after oral glucose load were within the accepted physiological range. It may be supposed that the deficiency of growth and body mass in healthy children were not exclusively dependent on the growth hormone. The obtained normal concentrations of serum insulin suggest a normal function of the enteroinsular axis. The results suggest a possible lack of interrelation between the degree of growth and body weight deficiency and the levels of these hormones in these children.