NUTRITION IS AN IMPORTANT REGULATOR OF THE GROWTH HORMONE BINDING PROTEIN

Abstract

Top of pageAbstract Food intake is known to have a major role in the regulation of hepatic GH receptors in rats. To evaluate effects of nutrition on the GH binding protein (GHBP), a soluble short form of the GH receptor, we have studied children presenting with celiac disease and children with obesity. Eight girls and two boys, aged 3-14 yr, all prebubertal, with short stature (- 4.2 ± 0.2 SD from normal height) had celiac disease. Their plasma IGF1 level was very low (mean ± SEM = 66.3 ± 10.3 ng/ml vs normal value for age = 216 ± 22 ng/ml). GHBP (16.4 ± 2.2% of radioactivity) was significantly lower than the value of prepubertal normal children (24.8 ± 1.7% of radioactivity). In six boys and two girls with obesity (+ 4.2 ± 0.4 SD from normal weight), aged 4-10 yr prepubertal, with normal height, GHBP was very high (56.3 ± 3.5% of radioactivity). The increased GHBP level was related to high binding capacity without change in affinity. The growth defect presented by children with celiac disease is associated with partial GH resistance and low GH receptor level. On the contrary, children with obesity and normal growth, have a high GH receptor level.