Effect of Iron Deficiency Anemia on IGF-1 Level Among Sample of Children

Abstract

Background and objectives:Iron-deficiency anemia is a worldwide nutritional problem and an important public health problem especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to compare the mean insulin like growth factor-1 of anemic children with that of non-anemic children and to correlate the levels of insulin like growth factor-1 with the levels of serum ferritin. Methods:cross-sectional study included fifty children. Measurement of levels of insulin like growth factor-1 was done in 25 children with iron deficiency anemia and compared with twenty-five age- and sex- matched non anemic children. Results: The mean age + SD were 6.11 + 3.31 years, ranging. There was significant difference detected between the iron deficiency anemia and control group regarding the mean values of insulin like growth factor-1 level as there was more than one third of iron deficiency anemia group had insulin like growth factor-1 levels lower than that of the control group. There was a relatively strong, significant positive correlation between serum ferritin levels with insulin like growth factor-1 levels. Conclusions:A significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin and serum insulin growth factor-1 level, since less serum ferritin levels is associated with less insulin growth factor-1 levels among anemic group compared with control group, implying that the effect of IDA on insulin like growth factor-1 level may differ according to body iron status.