Key result
Serum free IGF-I levels and the ratio of free to total IGF-I were significantly higher in pubertal age groups compared to prepubertal age groups in healthy children.
Cross-Sectional (n=257)
p-value: p=<0.0005
Serum free IGF-I levels increase during puberty in normal children, driven by a dramatic increase in total IGF-I and a decrease in IGFBP-1, suggesting a role in the pubertal growth spurt.
Higher free IGF-I in puberty is hypothesis-generating; longitudinal studies needed before any clinical role in growth assessment.
Serum levels of free insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I were measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) in fasting sera of 137 normal boys and 120 normal girls aged from 8 to 15 yr to study relationships between free IGF-I levels and ages, total IGF-I, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-1, IGFBP-3, and acid-labile subunit (ALS) levels. In both sexes, serum free IGF-I levels and the ratios of free IGF-I to total IGF-I were significantly higher in the pubertal age groups than in the prepubertal age groups. Serum levels of free IGF-I showed a significant positive correlation with those of total IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and ALS, while they showed a significant negative correlation with those of IGFBP-1. These observations suggest that increase in serum free IGF-I levels during puberty is caused by a dramatic increase in total IGF-I, rather than IGFBP-3, and a decrease in IGFBP-1. Also, high free IGF-I levels may play an important role in pubertal growth spurt.
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Nimura et al. (2004) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy children (n=257). Pubertal age vs. Prepubertal age was evaluated on Serum free IGF-I levels and ratio of free to total IGF-I (p=<0.0005). Serum free IGF-I levels and the ratio of free to total IGF-I were significantly higher in pubertal age groups compared to prepubertal age groups in healthy children.
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