[Modifications of insulin and growth hormone after medium chain triglycerides ingestion (author's transl)]

Authors determined the variation of glucose, ketone bodies (KB), free fatty acids (FFA), insulin and growth hormone (HGH) in blood produced by the ingestion of 1.5 g./kg. of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in 10 healthy children between 5 and 11 years. Blood values were determined starting 30 minutes before the MCT ingestion and at 30 minutes intervals until 120 minutes post ingestion and a final determination at 180 minutes. The glucose did not change. The KB were increased (p less than 0.01) from 30 to 120 minutes and the FFA from 90 (p less than 0.01) to 120 minutes (p less than 0.001) after ingestion. Insulin secretion was elevated between 30--90 minutes with a peak value at 60 minutes (p less than 0.001). HGH began to increase at 60 minutes, remaining elevated at the last determination at 180 minutes. The HGH basal value was 0.5 +/- 0.2 ng./ml.; began to increase at 60 minutes and reached the value of 3.9 +/- 1.06 ng./ml. and 4.8 +/- 2.04 ng./ml. at 90 and 120 minutes respectively (p less than 0.001). We do not know the origin of the HGH increase. The changes may explain FFA elevation and other metabolic actions of MCT. The glucose-insulin ratio showed that the hyperinsulinemia was not caused by an increased glucose level.