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Initial characterization of the GH–IGF axis and nutritional status of the Ati Negritos of the Philippines
Author(s) -
ClavanoHarding Amabel B.,
Ambler Geoffrey R.,
Cowell Christopher T.,
Garnett Sarah P.,
AlToumah Ban,
Coakley John C.,
Ho Ken K.Y.,
Baxter Robert C.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1999.00877.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , growth hormone binding protein , growth factor , short stature , insulin like growth factor , population , transferrin , ferritin , hormone , biology , insulin like growth factor binding protein , growth hormone , growth hormone receptor , receptor , environmental health
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The Ati Negritos are a Pygmy‐like aboriginal population from the Philippines with physical characteristics of short stature, dark skin and woolly, kinked hair. Their final height, components of their GH–IGF axis and various nutritional markers are described. SUBJECTS, DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS Auxological data and sera for the components of the GH–IGF axis and nutritional parameters were collected from 9 adult Ati Negritos in their native environment and 10 Filipinos in Sydney. RESULTS The height SDS (− 3.66 ± 1.1 vs . ‐ 1.01 ± 1.2), weight SDS (− 2.30 ± 1.6 vs . 0.10 ± 0.7), and BMI SDS (− 1.4 ± 1.8 vs . − 0.2 ± 0.5) between the two groups were significantly different ( P < 0.01). The mean height of the 6 male Ati Negritos was 149 ± 7 and 144 ± 3 cm for the females and are comparable with the African Pygmies and the Mountain Ok people of Papua New Guinea. The Ati Negritos showed lower growth hormone binding protein (GHBP), insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I), insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP‐3), acid labile subunit (ALS), zinc, albumin, ferritin, iron, iron saturation and much higher insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP‐2) and plasma transferrin concentrations. No differences were noted in random growth hormone (GH), plasma insulin‐like growth factor II (IGF‐II), nor in their plasma concentrations of prealbumin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (T 4 ). CONCLUSION Perturbations of both the GH–IGF‐I axis and nutritional markers exist in the Ati Negritos. These findings may be determinants of their stature; however, the aetiology of these changes remains to be fully elucidated.