COINCIDENCE OF NOCTURNAL GROWTH HORMONE AND ZINC SECRETION PROFILES IN SHORT CHILDREN

Abstract

A subgroup of short children grow in response to Zinc(Zn) which is an important cofactor in many enzymes essential to basic metabolism. Zn binds to a number of serum proteins; Zn is reported to bind to Growth Hormone(GH) and thereby exponentially assist GH binding to a receptor protein. We here report our test of the hypothesis that GH secretion is closely associated with Zn secretion in short children who do not have classic GH or Zn deficiency.

Seven short (<5th height percentile for age) children, 4 females(F) & 3 males(M), were admitted with informed consent to our CRC for blood sampling every 30min during a full night of sleep (11pm-7am). All subjects had demonstrated GH release>10ng/ml to short term GH testing and showed no evidence of a metabolic, dysmorphic or genetic disorder. We also evaluated a male(MX) with GH deficiency due to a Rathke Pouch Cyst. Plasma was carefully collected to avoid hemolysis and analyzed for GH (Nichols IRHA kit) and Zn (Atomic Absorption) content. Data for each subject were evaluated with assistance of Dr. Van Cauter's computer program (ULTRA) to identify GH and Zn pulses and their coincidence within a 30min interval.

All GH pulses coincident with Zn

There was no significant correlation between individual sums of GH & Zn (r²=0.14). These data support the hypothesis that the release of endogenous Growth Hormone is associated with a release of Zinc.

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