Abstract. The aim of the present study is to investigate possible alterations in ghrelin and other hormone levels related to appetite and somatic growth in children with iron deficiency anemia. Twenty-five patients and 25 healthy controls that were prepubertal and within normal limits regarding height and BMI standard deviation scores were recruited. Ghrelin, leptin, IGF-I, IGFBP-3, insulin, thyroid hormones and cortisol levels were studied. Ghrelin, insulin and IGF-I levels were significantly low in the study group (ghrelin 13.58 ± 16.32 vs. 35.39 ± 23.69 ng/ml, p<.001; insulin 3.41 ± 2.42 vs. 5.67 ± 1.09 mU/ml, p = .008 and IGF-I 126.94 ± 92.82 vs. 203 ± 105.1 ng/ml, p = .015). We concluded that low ghrelin and insulin levels might be causes of the appetite loss in iron deficiency and as a result of appetite loss and undernutrition as well as by direct effects they might be related with growth retardation, which could be also influenced by low IGF-I levels.

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