Initial characterization of the GH-IGF axis and nutritional status of the Ati Negritos of the Philippines

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1999 Dec;51(6):741-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.1999.00877.x.

Abstract

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 (T4).

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Height / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Carrier Proteins / blood
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Glycoproteins / blood
  • Growth Hormone / blood*
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / blood
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / analysis*
  • Iron / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander*
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Philippines / ethnology
  • Racial Groups
  • Serum Albumin / analysis
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Transferrin / analysis
  • Zinc / blood

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
  • Serum Albumin
  • Transferrin
  • insulin-like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Growth Hormone
  • Ferritins
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • somatotropin-binding protein