Insulin-like growth factor-1 as an indicator of nutrition during treatment of adolescent girls with eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The use of serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations as an index of nutrition has been analysed in teenage girls with eating disorders and weight loss.


METHODS
Blood samples for analysis of IGF-1 were obtained at 349 assessments of 302 patients and biweekly during 56 treatment periods in 46 patients. IGF-1 was related to body size, weight loss, degree of leanness (BMI standard deviation score) and rate of weight loss.


RESULTS
At assessment, when most of the girls were on a weight-losing course, serum IGF-1 concentrations were low. Weight loss immediately prior to assessment was the most important predictor of IGF-1. Together with measurements of weight, height, weight loss and BMI standard deviation score the rate of weight loss predicted IGF-1 to 32-55%. During treatment when there was net weight gain, IGF-1 increased in parallel with the BMI standard deviation score, a measure of leanness, and was also influenced by the short-term weight trend.


CONCLUSIONS
The serum IGF-1 concentration is an indicator of nutritional status in adolescents with eating disorders. It is sensitive to short-term weight changes measured in a clinical setting and could be used at assessment and to monitor nutritional rehabilitation.
Swenne
Ingemar
I
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Children's Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. ingemar.swenne@akademiska.se
Stridsberg
Mats
M
Thurfjell
Barbro
B
Rosling
Agneta
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012107:Research Design; D012737:Sex Factors; D015431:Weight Loss
D015415:Biomarkers; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I