title: [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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China. xinli-wang1217@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Xin-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei-Ru
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Wen-Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I