First-phase insulin release in normal children

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 123; no. 5; pp. 733 - 738
• Main Authors: Allen, H.F., Jeffers, B.W., Klingensmith, G.J., Chase, H.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.11.1993; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Child; Endocrine pancreas; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hormones. Régulation; Humans; Insulin - blood; Male; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Human; Pancreatic hormone; Reference; Exploration; Glucose tolerance test; Insulin; Standards; Endocrine secretion; Protein hormone; Prepuberty; Adolescent; Hormonal regulation; Child; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3476(05)80847-9

Normal values for the first-phase insulin release during an intravenous glucosetolerance test are not yet well defined for children and adolescents. In this study, 69 normal subjects (aged 7 to 22 years) who had no family history of type I diabetes, a normal glycohemoglobin value, and a negative islet cell antibody test result underwent a standard intravenous glucose tolerance test. The mean (±SEM) first-phase insulin release increased with age and pubertal status: 7 to 10 years, 93±10.1 mIU/L; 11 to 15 years, 172.7±22.3 mIU/L; and 16 to 22 years, 163±28.5 mIU/L. The mean intraindividual variability in 11 subjects who underwent a second test was 23.6%. Acute stress, as estimated by observer assessment or by blood catecholamine levels, did not significantly correlate with firstphase insulin release. We conclude that first-phase insulin release is markedly lower in prepubertal children than in adolescents and young adults.