title: Immunoreactive somatomedin C in children from Morocco: a biological marker of nutritional growth retardation?
abstract: Somatomedin C (Sm-C) is supposed to be a sensitive marker of malnutrition. Its relationship to growth and protein intake was investigated in 47 Moroccan children. The children (mean age: 7.5 +/- 2 yr) had no endocrine abnormality. Anthropometric parameters were measured, together with blood levels of Sm-C and growth hormone (GH). Lower values of Sm-C were found in the following situations: (a) growth retardation (more than -2 Sd, N = 23; Sm-C = 3.61 +/- 0.42 nmol/l vs. 13.38 +/- 1.52, P less than 0.02); (b) body weight less than 80% of expected weight for height (N = 8; Sm-C = 4.84 +/- 0.97 vs. 10.33 +/- 1.19, P less than 0.02); (c) boys with meat consumption less than 3 times per wk (N = 15; Sm-C = 4.03 +/- 0.71 vs. 12.35 +/- 2.01, P less than 0.002). Thus, lower values of Sm-C are found in association with weight insufficiency and lower protein intake. As has previously been assumed, serum Sm-C, which is regulated by nutrition, may be a sensitive tool in the assessment of nutritional status in developing countries such as Morocco. Furthermore, it could explain some cases of growth retardation in states of malnutrition.
authors.affiliation: University of Marrakech, Morocco.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bouhaddioui
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brun
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jacquemin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bailly
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouhaddioui
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kabbaj
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orsetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013002:Somatomedins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I