GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION IN PROTEIN ENERGY MALNUTRITION

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Abstract
Plasma hGH [human growth hormone] levels were assessed in 15 infants with protein energy malnutrition following insulin-induced hypoglycemia, arginine and L-dopa provocation tests and i.v. glucose tolerance test. Fasting hGH levels were high in 85.7% of the cases. An adequate hGH response to stimulation was obtained in only 42.8% of the cases with insulin-induced hypoglycemia; in 52.5% with arginine and in 30.8% with L-dopa. Response to at least 1 type of provocation was obtained in all 5 cases to which all 3 tests were applied. Exaggerated or delayed response to provocative stimuli was also encountered in a number of the cases. I.v. glucose tolerance test did not lead to suppression in hGH secretion or to increase in insulin secretion in these subjects. Marasmic protein energy malnutrition may lead to defects in the hGH secretory function of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis.