Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography
03:35

Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Published on: December 1, 2023

784

Hormonal Correlates and Predictors of Nutritional Recovery in Malnourished African Children

Helen M Nabwera1,2, Robin M Bernstein3, Schadrac C Agbla1,2

  • 1MRC Unit The Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|November 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Growth hormone levels vary in malnourished children undergoing nutritional rehabilitation. Baseline C-peptide levels predict weight gain in these children, aiding in personalized rehabilitation strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Endocrinology
  • Growth Monitoring

Background:

  • Children exhibit varied growth responses to nutritional rehabilitation.
  • Investigating hormonal factors influencing these growth differences is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between growth and energy-regulating hormones in malnourished children.
  • To identify hormonal predictors of growth response to nutritional rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

  • A quasi-experimental study involving 6-24 month old children in rural Gambia.
  • Children were categorized into control, moderate acute malnutrition, and severe acute malnutrition groups based on weight-for-height z-score (WHZ).
  • Plasma hormone and salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured using ELISA.

Main Results:

  • Increases in weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) were positively correlated with insulin, C-peptide, and cortisol in univariable analyses.
  • Multivariable analysis revealed that baseline C-peptide was the sole significant predictor of WAZ changes over 28 days.
  • Baseline C-peptide demonstrated a significant positive correlation with WAZ changes (F-ratio 7.6, p=0.009).

Conclusions:

  • Baseline C-peptide levels are a significant predictor of nutritional rehabilitation response in Gambian children.
  • While not solely diagnostic, C-peptide can inform individualized rehabilitation approaches.
  • Hormonal profiling may enhance the effectiveness of interventions for childhood malnutrition.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

27.9K
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

18.4K

Related Concept Videos

Anorexia Nervosa01:28

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
1.4K
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy01:30

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy

Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
940
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
22.5K
Bulimia Nervosa01:30

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
837
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
2.9K
Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation01:24

Metabolic States of the Body: Fasting and Starvation

During the initial hours of fasting, the body uses up its glycogen stores as an energy source. Once these glycogen reserves are depleted, the body begins breaking down stored triglycerides and structural proteins. During this stage, glycerol becomes a key substrate for gluconeogenesis, while free fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation to provide energy for tissues, such as skeletal muscle. In the fasting state, the body spares protein breakdown as much as possible to conserve muscle and structural...
3.0K