Age-dependent relationship of fasting C-peptide concentration and insulin secretion in non-obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

The age-dependent relationship of fasting immunomeasurable C-peptide to fasting immunomeasurable insulin (IRI) and IRI response to glucose was studied in 113 non-obese healthy subjects with normal glucose tolerance (oGTT according to the new WHO recommendations), ranging in age from 6 to 44 years. Fasting C-peptide concentration increased significantly in adolescents and adults when compared with children. The higher fasting C-peptide concentration in the adult group might be explained by the concomitant higher fasting blood glucose concentration whereas such relationship was lacking in adolescents. In contrast to this we failed to demonstrate such relationship with regard to fasting IRI levels. There was, however, a relationship between advancing age and early (IRI area 0-30 min), late (IRI area 30-120 min) and total (IRI area 0-120 min) insulin response to glucose. There was a significant correlation between fasting C-peptide concentration and estimates of IRI response in children and adolescents, whereas such relationship was lacking in adults. Based on these results, the present study demonstrates an age-related increase of the pancreatic beta-cell function which might be partly explained by the concomitant higher blood glucose concentration.