Blood Plasma Levels of Cortisol, Insulin, Growth Hormone and Somatomedin in Children with Marasmus, Kwashiorkor, and Intermediate Forms of Protein-Energy Malnutrition

Abstract

Plasma insulin, growth hormone, somatomedin, free and bound cortisol, and serum albumin were measured in human infants with protein-energy malnutrition and in age-matched control subjects. Insulin and somatomedin were reduced, growth hormone and free and total cortisol were elevated in malnourished infants. Free cortisol and somatomedin were negatively correlated (r = 0.78) and somatomedin and percentage weight deficit were negatively correlated in marasmus (r = 0.62) and kwashiorkor (r = 0.68). Elevated plasma-free cortisol and depressed plasma insulin in protein-energy malnourished infants may be partially responsible for the depressed plasma somatomedin and reduced protein synthesis and growth in children.