Abstract
Somatomedin-C (SOM-C) concentrations are regulated by circulating growth hormone (GH) concentrations; however, other factors, such as nutrition, also influence SOM-C concentrations. We evaluated the GH-SOM-C axis in seven normal-weight female bulimics one day after hospital admission, and in seven age-, sex-, and weight-matched normal controls. Subjects were medication-free for at least one month. Fasting morning serum GH concentrations were higher in all bulimics (range 2.5–13.3 ng/ml) than in all controls (range <1.0–1.8 ng/ml). The mean (±SD) maximum GH response to TRH (500 μg) was greater in the bulimics (12.9±4.9 ng/ml) than in the controls (3.7±2.7 ng/ml) (p<.001). Despite this GH elevation, the mean (±SD) SOM-C concentration was comparable in the bulimics (2.0±0.6 U/ml) and the controls (1.6±0.8 U/ml). This suggests that SOM-C generation is resistant to the elevated circulating GH in bulimia and that SOM-C is not inhibiting GH secretion in the pituitary-hypothalamic axis.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
