Effects of the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complex on GH and ghrelin nocturnal concentrations in low birth weight children

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Ghrelin in this clinical trial publication.

There is limited information regarding the effects of IGF-I and/or IGFBP-3 on circulating ghrelin concentrations.

To determine the effects of IGF-I on GH and ghrelin concentrations, the researchers examined the GH and ghrelin nocturnal profiles before and after the administration of the IGF-I/-IGFBP-3 complex (Iplex) to low birth weight children.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 11 boys were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are children.

Blood samples for determination of GH and ghrelin were obtained every 20 min between 2300 h and 0700 h, while the children were sleeping.

In each patient, the researchers calculated the mean GH and ghrelin area under the curve (GH AUC and GHR AUC), both under basal conditions and after the administration of the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complex.

How the Study Was Run

The study was performed at a University Research Centre located at a General Hospital in Santiago, Chile.

Their mean height was -1.8 +/- 0.3 standard deviation score (SDS) and their mean BMI was 0.1 +/- 0.2 SDS at the time of the study.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Area Under Curve, Ghrelin, Growth Disorders, Growth Hormone, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I.

What This Means in Plain Language

This is a clinical trial of Ghrelin in 11 boys.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

Results are reported in around 2 sentences of the abstract; we leave them to the paper itself rather than summarise them.

The publication is from 2006 (Clinical endocrinology), a journal based in England.

More context: the Ghrelin compound page, all human trials.