Fasting serum insulin levels in childhood.

There is little published information on insulin levels in normal children. Ehrlich and Bambers (1964) found the fasting plasma insulin levels of 6 normal children to be similar to adult levels. Slone, Soeldner, Steinke, and Crigler (1966) have reported low fasting serum insulin levels in 13 normal children between the ages of 3 and 9 years. This paper describes the fasting immuno-reactive insulin and blood glucose concentrations in 86 European children who had been admitted to hospital for elective surgical procedures. Insulin and glucose levels in 9 premature infants and 12 young adults are also given.