Related Experiment Videos
Serum gastrin level in early childhood
Insights
Serum gastrin levels are higher in newborns than in infants and respond normally to food. Gastrin release in infants is similar to adults, with no defects found in those with gastro-oesophageal reflux.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Neonatology
Background:
- Serum gastrin plays a crucial role in gastrointestinal function.
- Understanding gastrin regulation in early life is essential for pediatric health.
- Previous studies have not fully elucidated gastrin dynamics in newborns and infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure serum gastrin concentrations in newborns and infants.
- To investigate the effect of food stimulation on serum gastrin levels.
- To compare gastrin levels in infants with and without gastrointestinal disorders.
Main Methods:
- Serum gastrin levels were measured in fasting newborns and infants.
- Fasting gastrin levels were compared between different age groups.
- Gastrin response to milk feeding was assessed.
- Fasting gastrin levels were analyzed in infants with hiatus hernia and gastro-oesophageal reflux compared to controls.
Main Results:
- Mean fasting serum gastrin was significantly higher in newborns (130.4 pg/ml) than in infants (101.4 pg/ml).
- Milk ingestion induced a rise in serum gastrin levels in both newborns and infants.
- Fasting gastrin levels were comparable between infants with gastro-oesophageal reflux and age-matched controls.
- One infant with lower oesophageal dyskinesia exhibited a markedly elevated fasting gastrin concentration.
Conclusions:
- Gastrin release and response to food stimulation in early life resemble those in adult humans.
- No gastrin release defects were identified in infants experiencing gastro-oesophageal reflux.
- Further investigation may be warranted for elevated gastrin in specific conditions like lower oesophageal dyskinesia.
Abstract:
Serum gastrin concentration was measured in newborns and infants with no gastrointestinal disorders, in the fasting state and after food stimulation. Mean fasting concentration in 14 newborns aged 1 to 12 days (130 . 4 pg/ml +/- 11 . 4 SE) was significantly higher than the mean value in 23 infants aged 1.5 to 22 months (101.4 +/- 6.6 pg/ml). Ingestion of the usual milk meal resulted in a definite rise of the serum gastrin level in the 5 subjects tested (3 newborns and 2 infants). The mean fasting serum gastrin level in 6 babies with hiatus hernia and gastro-oesophageal reflux was found to be no different from the corresponding value in 8 age-matched controls. However, a conspicuously raised fasting gastrin concentration was observed in one infant with lower oesophageal dyskinesia. The results indicate that the release of gastrin and the reactivity of the hormone-producing sites to food stimulation in early life are similar to those in adult humans. No defect of gastrin release was shown in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux.