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Influence of insulin-like growth factor I and nutrition during phases of postnatal growth in very preterm infants

Ingrid Hansen-Pupp1, Chatarina Löfqvist, Staffan Polberger

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden. ingrid.pupp@skane.se

Pediatric Research
|January 26, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is linked to growth in very preterm infants earlier than nutritional intake. Nutritional support impacts IGF-I levels primarily during catch-up growth.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Very preterm birth is associated with significant growth restriction (GR).
  • Understanding the interplay between Insulin-like Growth Factor I (IGF-I), nutrition, and growth is crucial for optimizing outcomes in these vulnerable infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively evaluate the interaction between IGF-I, nutritional intake, and growth parameters in very preterm infants.
  • To determine the temporal relationship between IGF-I levels, nutritional intake, and growth phases (GR and catch-up growth).

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 64 infants with a mean gestational age (GA) of 25.7 weeks.
  • Weekly measurements of weight, length, head circumference, and blood sampling for IGF-I until discharge.
  • Daily calculation of nutritional intake (protein and energy).

Main Results:

  • IGF-I concentrations were low in early postnatal weeks, increasing around 30 weeks GA, coinciding with catch-up (CU) growth initiation.
  • IGF-I concentrations were positively associated with weight SDS changes during both GR and CU phases.
  • Nutritional intake was not associated with weight SDS changes during the GR phase but was significantly associated during the CU phase.
  • Nutritional intake did not correlate with IGF-I levels before 30 weeks GA.

Conclusions:

  • IGF-I is associated with growth in very preterm infants at an earlier postnatal age than nutritional intake.
  • The influence of nutrition on IGF-I levels appears to be primarily during the established catch-up growth phase.

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