In 70 healthy children aged from three months to 15 years, blood glucose, immunoreactive insulin, and free fatty acids were measured during a three-hour glucose tolerance test. The results are presented for the whole group as well as for three age groups: three months-five years, six-10 years, and 11–15 years.
It is demonstrated that (1) glucose levels are significantly lower in young children (younger than five years); (2) there are no significant age-related changes in free fatty acid concentration; (3) insulin levels are increasing constantly and significantly with age, the most strikingly at the age of onset of puberty; the absence of notable changes in glucose tolerance results in a rise of the I/G ratio as well.
The causes for the increase of insulin secretion with age, whether of peripheral or pancreatic order, are still speculative.
