Endocrine Abstracts

The acceleration in linear growth at puberty is attributed to the combined physiological effects of both somatotropic and gonadal axes. In synergy, growth hormone (GH) and gonadal steroids (testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2)) stimulate longitudinal bone growth through direct stimulation of chondrocytes and osteoblast. Nutrition such as sufficient amount of nutrients including calcium, phosphate, sodium, potassium and iron and vitamins like vitamin D, vitamin A and vitamin C play an important role in linear bone growth velocity at puberty in both sexes. Amongst others, the secretion of GH is stimulated by ghrelin through GH secretagogue receptor (GHSR). Ghrelin, secreted by enteroendocrine cells of gastrointestinal tract, stimulates the hunger center in the hypothalamus, increases appetite and plays a role in positive energy balance. The present study was designed to determine the level of appetite and food intake, plasma concentrations of metabolic hormones, ghrelin, leptin, obestatin, GH, prolactin (PRL) and triiodothyronine (T3) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in normal and short stature boys and girls. The amount of food intake over a period of one week was determined through Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) in 50 normal and 35 short stature children and the amount of calories, nutrients and vitamins were calculated from the food intake by using available literature for each food item. ELISA was used for analysis of plasma ghrelin, leptin, obestatin and PRL while RIA was used for analysis of plasma GH and T3. BMR was calculated by using the Harris and Benedict Equation (1918) for both boys and girls. Data were analyzed using Student’s t test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation r. The results revealed that normal children exhibited increased appetite and food intake as compared to short stature children. Moreover, the concentrations of metabolic hormones T3, GH, PRL, obestatin and BMR were significantly higher in normal children as compared to short stature children indicating lower level of energy balance in short stature children. In contrast, the concentrations of ghrelin were significantly higher in short stature children as compared to normal children suggesting a lack of negative feedback effect on ghrelin secretion. Similarly, the concentrations of leptin were also higher in short stature children indicating greater deposition of fats and higher BMI of short stature children. In conclusion, normal children exhibited increased appetite, food intake and higher concentrations of T3, GH, PRL, obestatin and BMR, whereas short stature children had increased concentrations of ghrelin and leptin and higher adiposity.