Zinc intake and plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in Jamaican malnourished children - abstract

ABSTRACT

The effect of zinc intake on plasma immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor-I (IR-IGF-1) was studied in 24 children (aged 3 to 24 mos) recovering from severe malnutrition. The children were randomly assigned to two groups for zinc supplementation. Twelve (Zn+) were given (2mg/kg/d) added to the recovery of diet, and 12 (ZN-) were not. There was no group difference in age, sex, anthropometric measurements or plasma IR-IGF-1 at baseline. Plasma IR-IGF-1 was significantly higher in the zinc supplemented children during recovery (p = 0.031). These results suggest that zinc intake stimulates IR-IGF-1 production. (AU)