Abstract
As one of the most common features of obesity, insulin resistance is central to the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. Low insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels have been proven to be associated with many traditional cardiovascular risk factors, but it still remains controversial with the relationship between IGF-1 and insulin resistance. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between IGF-1 and insulin resistance in obese prepubertal boys. We used the whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) to represent insulin resistance. 70 obese prepubertal boys were included in the study, and the obese subjects were divided into two groups by using 1.285 as a threshold value for WBISI. Clinical examination and laboratory examinations were assessed for all participants. Among obese boys, the group of children with WBISI ≤ 1.285 had lower IGF-1 standard deviation scores (SDS) (p = 0.021) than the WBISI > 1.285 group. The results of multiple linear analyses show that lg WBISI was positively correlated with IGF-1 SDS (p = 0.031) after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. IGF-1 SDS was negatively associated with insulin resistance in obese prepubertal boys, independent of other traditional cardiovascular disease risk markers.
Highlights
Childhood obesity has become a major health problem all over the world
Our study found that reduced insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were present in obese prepubertal boys with lower values of whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI), which is a surrogate marker of insulin resistance
We provided evidences that WBISI was significantly correlated with IGF-1 standard deviation scores (SDS) after controlling for other metabolic risk factors
Summary
Childhood obesity has become a major health problem all over the world It is an independent chronic metabolic disease and an important risk factor for chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in children [1]. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test were described as gold standard methods for assessing insulin resistance, it is impractical to be widely used in pediatric population due to its expensive and multiple blood drawn. The homeostatic model assessment index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), a simpler, less invasive method, has been widely used in children and adolescents; Shaibi et al [3] showed that fasting indices are not recommended when studying the effect of interventions on insulin sensitivity in overweight youth. The whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) derived from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) provides reasonable estimates of insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance and has been validated as good surrogate measures of insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents [4, 5]
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