title: Ghrelin levels in children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to show the role of ghrelin in growth delay in children with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male children with CDGP constituted the study group and fifteen healthy children with normal growth of similar ages-the control group. In both groups, fasting and postprandial plasma ghrelin levels, serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in fasting and postprandial ghrelin levels (824.23±523.46 pg/mL and 447.26±259.92 pg/mL, respectively) in children with CDGP compared to the levels in the control group (687.38±481.43 pg/mL and 365.59±260.43 pg/mL, respectively; p>0.05). Differences in fasting and postprandial ghrelin levels were also similar in the two groups (394.44±369.10 pg/mL and 346.55±338.67 pg/mL, respectively; p>0.05). Serum IGF-1 levels were significantly depressed in children with CDGP compared to those in the control group (239.5±83.95 ng/mL and 339.20±63.08 ng/mL, respectively; p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased appetite and feeding problems in children with CDGP were not related to depressed ghrelin levels. In addition, ghrelin levels did not increase to compensate for the decreased appetite and feeding problems in CDGP.
authors.affiliation: Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. tolgasen69@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Tolta Altuğ
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Damla Gökşen
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Şimşek
authors.forename: Sükran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darcan
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005215:Fasting; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000097:blood*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D054439:Ghrelin; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I