Umbilical cord ghrelin concentrations in Asian and Caucasian neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the relationship between cord plasma ghrelin and growth hormone (GH) concentrations and birth weight in Asian and Caucasian neonates.


METHODS
We measured umbilical cord ghrelin and GH concentrations in 180 full-term newborns [4 groups of 45 according to ethnicity (Caucasian/Asian) and sex].


RESULTS
Ghrelin was detectable in all umbilical cord samples (mean +/- SD: 611 +/- 267, range 193-2,010 pg/ml). There was no significant difference in ghrelin concentrations between Asian and Caucasian male or female neonates. In contrast, GH values were significantly affected by sex (p = 0.001) and ethnicity (p = 0.006). Except for a weak (r = -0.33, p < 0.03) negative correlation between ghrelin and GH in male Caucasian neonates, ghrelin and GH concentrations were independent.


CONCLUSIONS
Umbilical cord concentrations of ghrelin, a potent orexigenic and GH stimulatory agent, are similar in Caucasian and Asian newborns, suggesting that ghrelin does not play a causal role in the differences in body composition and GH metabolism observed in these neonates.
Chanoine
Jean-Pierre
JP
Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. jchanoine@cw.bc.ca
Yeung
Louisa P K
LP
Wong
Alfred C K
AC
D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D054439:Ghrelin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D044465:White People
D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D019382:Human Growth Hormone