An evaluation of insulin-like growth factor-1 as an indicator of nutritional status

This study evaluated the usefulness of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as a marker of nutritional status in 185 hospitalised patients compared with conventional biochemical (albumin) and anthropometric parameters. C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as a biochemical marker of underlying illness. 77 (42%) patients were normally nourished or overweight and 108 (58%) were nutritionally depleted. IGF-1 and albumin were significantly lower in the malnourished patients as a group. However, in the malnourished patients with normal CRP, there was no correlation between albumin or anthropometric measurements and IFG-1. In malnourished patients with a raised CRP, there was no relationship between malnutrition determined by body mass index and anthropometry and either albumin of IGF-1 concentrations. In normally nourished patients with a raised CRP, there was a relationship between albumin and CRP; and IGF-1 and CRP and between albumin and IGF-1. IGF-1 was related to age in all groups of patients. We conclude that neither albumin nor IGF-1 can be reliably used to assess nutritional status.