Association between insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 and leptin levels with nutritional status in 1–3-year-old children, residing in the central region of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The present study evaluated levels of growth factors and their associations with nutritional status with emphasis on stunting in children at 1 and 3 years of age. A follow-up study on a birth cohort (n 219) of children from villages in the central region of the Limpopo Province was undertaken. Of the original cohort, 156 and 162 could be traced and assessed at ages 1 and 3 years, respectively. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, dietary intake and fasting blood (collected from 116 and 145 children at 1 and 3 years, respectively) for growth factor analysis (insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF binding protein (BP)-1, IGFBP-3, leptin, glucose and insulin). At 1 year it was found that stunted children had lower leptin levels while their IGFBP-1 levels were higher than that in normal children. These differences were, however, not observed at 3 years. Furthermore at 1 year the biochemical parameters were more related to length measures whereas at 3 years the parameters were more associated with weight measures. The observed stunting in this group of children may be a result of chronic undernutrition resulting in long-term growth faltering which is already evident at 1 year. Thus the observed phenomenon might be an adaptive mechanism adopted by children's metabolic processes as they grow up in an environment with inadequate essential nutrients due to poor weaning practices and consumption of a diet of poor quality, resulting in them gaining more weight at the expense of linear growth.

Anthropometric nutritional status of children (0–18 years) in South Africa 1997–2022: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The higher prevalence of stunting among infants and young children (0–2-year-old) from low socio-economic areas ( 22 , 27 , 30 ) compared to higher socio-economic urban areas ( 19 , 28 , 31 , 38 ) is in line with the previous review ( 8 ) and a recent review of global data ( 86 ) . The highest total under 5 years old prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was found among children from the Northern Cape province, where a large proportion of the population live in under-resourced settings ( 33 – 35 ) .…”

“…Meta-analysis of all prevalence data shows a stunting prevalence of 25·0 % among infants and preschool children. Generally, a higher prevalence of stunting was reported in rural settings (18–37 %) ( 21 – 27 ) than in urban areas (1·8–10·9 %) ( 19 , 28 , 29 ) , except for two studies that reported high prevalence of stunting in low socio-economic settings in urban areas (19–36 %) ( 30 – 32 ) . In regional, as well as in national studies, for the total under 5 years old group, the highest prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting was found in children from the Northern Cape province ( 33 – 35 ) .…”

“…Meta-analysis of all prevalence data shows a stunting prevalence of 25•0 % among infants and preschool children. Generally, a higher prevalence of stunting was reported in rural settings (18-37 %) (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) than in urban areas (1•8-10•9 %) (19,28,29) , except for two studies that reported high prevalence of stunting in low socio-economic settings in urban areas (19-36 %) (30)(31)(32) .…”

Effect of high-calorie formula on weight, height increment, IGF-1 and TLC in growth faltering children: A quasi-experimental study

“…IGF-1 was decreased from birth to 24 months old but increased after the age of 24 months [ 56 ]. Another study showed there was no difference of IGF-1 levels based on nutritional states (normal; stunted; overweight; stunted and overweight) [ 57 ], which supports this study.…”