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Motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and gastrin in infantile colic
Insights
Increased motilin levels may contribute to infantile colic symptoms. This study found higher motilin in colicky infants and formula-fed babies compared to breastfed ones.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Infantile colic is characterized by intestinal hyperperistalsis.
- Gut hormones play a crucial role in regulating gastrointestinal motility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of three key gut hormones—motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and gastrin—in infantile colic.
- To compare hormone levels in colicky infants with healthy infants and children with other gastrointestinal or non-gastrointestinal disorders.
Main Methods:
- Radioimmunoassay (RIA) method was used to measure serum levels of motilin, VIP, and gastrin.
- Study included 40 infants with infantile colic, 42 healthy infants, 11 children with GI disorders, and 20 children with non-GI disorders.
Main Results:
- Basal serum motilin levels were significantly elevated in infants with infantile colic and children with other GI disorders.
- Formula-fed infants exhibited higher basal motilin levels than breast-fed infants.
- Elevated serum VIP and gastrin were observed in children with other GI disorders, but not in those with infantile colic. Formula-fed colicky infants had higher gastrin levels than breast-fed colicky infants.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum motilin may partially explain the clinical presentation of infantile colic.
- Hormonal differences, particularly motilin levels, may distinguish infantile colic from other gastrointestinal conditions in infants.
Abstract:
Intestinal hyperperistalsis is one part of the clinical picture in infantile colic. Three gut hormones involved in the regulation of gut motility; motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and gastrin, were measured with the RIA method in: 40 infants with infantile colic, (age 2-22 weeks), 42 healthy age-matched infants, 11 children (age 3-36 months) with gastrointestinal disorders, and 20 children (age 3-36 months) with non-gastrointestinal disorder. Basal s-motilin levels were raised in infants with infantile colic (p less than 0.01) and in children with other gastrointestinal disorders (p less than 0.001). Formula-fed infants had higher basal s-motilin levels than the breast-fed infants (p less than 0.05). P-VIP and s-gastrin levels were raised in children with other gastro-intestinal disorders (p less than 0.05), but not in infantile colic. Formula-fed colicky infants had higher s-gastrin levels than the breast-fed colicky infants (p less than 0.05). We suggest that the increased s-motilin level in infantile colic might account in part for the clinical picture of this disorder.