The relationship between serum ghrelin levels and hair zinc concentrations in children
Open Access
- 10 January 2011
- journal article
- Published by Galenos Yayinevi in Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology
- Vol. 1 (1), 1-7
- https://doi.org/10.4008/jcrpe.v1i1.14
Abstract
Zinc (Zn) plays a central role in the activation of numerous enzyme systems that synthesize and degrade bioactive peptides. Some of these bioactive peptides, also called neuropeptides, are involved in the regulation of food intake. In this study we aimed to demonstrate the relationship between serum ghrelin and hair Zn concentrations in children. Prepubertal children brought to our outpatient clinics by their parents because of signs and symptoms of pica, poor appetite, poor growth, and other complaints were included in the study. The children were divided into two groups according to Zn hair concentrations. Group 1 consisted of children with low (< 70 μg/g) hair Zn levels, and group 2 of children with normal ( ≥ 70 μg/g) hair Zn levels. Hair Zn concentrations, serum ghrelin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels were measured in all children. There were 10 children with low hair Zn levels (group 1) and 15 with normal levels (group 2). Serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ghrelin concentrations of group 1 (103.1 ± 71.8 ng/mL, 1412.8 ± 615.7 ng/mL and 0.96 ± 0.22 ng/mL, respectively) were lower than in group 2(164.9 ± 40.5 ng/mL, 2398.5 ± 295.5 ng/mL and 1.21 ± 0.23 ng/mL, respectively). In univariate analysis, Zn hair concentration was positively associated with serum IGF-I (r=0.424, p=0.035) and IGFBP-3 (r=0.671, p < 0.001) concentrations. The correlation between ghrelin and hair Zn concentrations was not significant (r=0.202, p=0.333). Serum ghrelin concentrations might be affected by low hair Zn concentrations in children.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of zinc on biochemical parameters and changes in related gene expression assessed by cDNA microarrays in pituitary of growing ratsNutrition, 2006
- Plasma ghrelin levels in healthy elderly volunteers: the levels of acylated ghrelin in elderly females correlate positively with serum IGF-I levels and bowel movement frequency and negatively with systolic blood pressureJournal of Endocrinology, 2006
- A Graded Model of Dietary Zinc Deficiency: Effects on Growth, Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐I, and the Glucose/Insulin Axis in Weanling RatsJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2005
- Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Growth Hormone Secretion, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, Somatomedin Generation, Alkaline Phosphatase, Osteocalcin and Growth in Prepubertal Children with Idiopathic Short StatureJournal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2005
- Effects of Cadmium and Zinc on Plasma Levels of Growth Hormone, Insulin-like Growth Factor I, and Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 3Biological Trace Element Research, 2005
- Anabolic neuropeptidesPhysiology & Behavior, 2004
- Minireview: Insights from Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein Transgenic MiceEndocrinology, 2002
- Plasma ghrelin concentrations in elderly subjects: comparison with anorexic and obese patientsJournal of Endocrinology, 2002
- Beyond carrier proteins: integrative and evolutionary roles of hormone-binding proteins. Proceedings of a symposium. Anaheim, California, USA. 4 January 2002Journal of Endocrinology, 2002
- PLASMA-ZINC IN HEALTH AND DISEASEThe Lancet, 1970