“…However, in the study described here the concentration of IGF-1 in the serum of the Zn-deficient rats was reduced by a significant 28% despite elevated GH levels. Reduced IGF-1 concentrations in Zn deficiency were also unanimously reported by other authors in animals {Cossack 1984;1986;Oner, Bhaumick and Bala 1984;Bolze, Reeves, Lindbeck and Elders 1987;Dorup et al 1991;Heindl et al 1993;Dicks, Rojhani and Cossack 1993;Droke et al 1993) and in humans {Ghavami- Maibodi et al 1983;Cossack 1991;Nakamura, Nishiyama, Futagaishi-Suginohara, Matsuda and Higashi 1993), which were reversible following Zn repletion {Cossack 1984;1986;1988;Ghavami-Maibodi et al 1983;Bolze et al 1987;Nishi et al 1989). The cause of the reduced IGF-1 levels in Zn deficiency while GH concentrations in the serum are elevated is believed to be an impairment of the stimulating effect of GH on IGF-1 synthesis.…”