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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Homogeneous Time-resolved Förster Resonance Energy Transfer-based Assay for Detection of Insulin Secretion
Published on: May 10, 2018
Salivary and serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) assays in anorexic patients
Elzbieta Paszynska1, Monika Dmitrzak-Weglarz2, Agnieszka Slopien3
1a Department of Biomaterials and Experimental Dentistry , Poznan University of Medical Sciences , Poznan , Poland.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to measure the salivary and serum free IGF-1 concentration of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) in comparison to an average population.
Methods:
A controlled clinical trial was designed for an age- and gender-matched group of 121 AN patients and 77 healthy individuals. A clinical examination was made and blood and salivary samples were taken during the acute stage of AN (BMI < 15 kg/m2) in the first week of hospitalization. An enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) suitable for measuring free IGF-1 was used.
Results:
Anorexic patients had significant reductions in salivary unstimulated flow rate (UFR), pH and free IGF-1 levels in their saliva and serum. Significant correlations between serum IGF-1 and BMI; salivary IGF-1 and UFR and pH were detected.
Conclusions:
Salivary and serum IGF-1 analyses appear to be a reliable biochemical indicator of malnutrition in AN patients. Measurement of salivary IGF-1 levels would allow new perspectives in monitoring AN in its early stages.
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