Growth hormone levels during the first week of life in full-term normal infants, infants of diabetic mothers and in premature infants

Growth hormone levels during insulin- and glucose load have been studied, in normal infants, infants of diabetic mothers and in premature infants during the first week of life.
Base levels of HGH were elevated in all patients when compared to older infants. The highest levels were present on the first day of life. Lower levels were found in infants of diabetic mothers than in the other patients studied.
Insulin-induced hypoglycaemia increased HGH levels in all patients. The increase was more pronounced at the age of one day as compared, to 5—6 days if the absolute levels were compared. The increase was more moderate in infants of diabetic mothers. If the response to hypoglycaemia is expressed as the per cent maximal increment from basic levels no difference in response can be shown between the first day of life and the age of 5—6 days or between normal infants and infants of diabetic mothers. For premature infants the response in per cent increment was more pronounced at the end of the first week and of much higher degree than for other infants studied.
Hyperglycaemia induced an increase in HGH levels comparable to that found during hypoglycaemia. The differences between the groups studied are the same as for hypoglycaemia.