Reappraisal of bovril as a source of arginine in the arginine stimulation test for growth hormone deficiency
- Author:
Huai Heng, Loh
;
Norlela Sukor
;
Nor Azmi Kamaruddin
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- Keywords:
Growth Hormone Deficiency;
Growth Hormone Stimulation Test;
Oral Bovril;
Arginine
- MeSH:
Growth Hormone
- From:
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
2015;70(3):208-209
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The purpose of this case study is to report the use of oral
Bovril (a food supplement which contains arginine) as an
alternative test for growth hormone stimulation test. We
performed oral Bovril test in 3 patients -- one with suspected
growth hormone deficiency in whom insulin tolerance test
could not be performed (subject A), one sex-matched
control (subject B), and one with confirmed growth hormone
deficiency (subject C). 14g/m2 of oral Bovril was mixed with
150ml of warm water and was given to all three subjects.
Blood for growth hormone was taken at baseline, and every
30 minutes till 150 minutes after ingestion of oral Bovril. The
ingestion of oral Bovril showed a positive response in
subjects A and B, with highest growth hormone levels of
28.4mIU/L and 42.0mIU/L respectively at 150 minutes.
Subject C had suppressed growth hormone throughout the
test. Oral Bovril is readily available and is a safe alternative
for standard growth hormone stimulation test.
- Full text:U020150904427328714803.pdf
