Insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and their association with growth and development in infants aged 1-24 months

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and their association with growth and development in infants aged 1-24 mouths. METHODS: A total of 525 healthy infants (125 preterm, 400 term) were enrolled. Serum IGF-1 levels were measured using ELISA 1.5, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24 months after birth. The body weight and body length were simultaneously measured. RESULTS: Serum IGF-1 levels were the lowest in preterm infants 1.5 months after birth (86±60 ng/mL). Thereafter, serum IGF-1 levels increased, and were significantly higher than those in term infants between 4 and 12 months after birth. Serum IGF-1 levels in term infants were the highest (116±52 ng/mL) 1.5 months after birth during their life of 12 months old. Thereafter, serum IGF-1 levels decreased and reached to a nadir (69±58 ng/mL) 8 months after birth. IGF-I levels were positively correlated with the weight and the height (SDS) in both preterm and term infants. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IGF-1 levels are closely associated with growth and development in infants.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (6):459-461］