Serum Insulin, Insulin-like Growth Factor-I and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 Levels in Obese Adolescents

Kwon, Jung Hyun; Kim, Hyun Jin; Hong, Young Mi

Abstract

PURPOSE
Childhood Obesity is increasing throughout the world, and it is known to incur many diseases especially in later life such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between obesity and insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and know if these factors are useful in predicting cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: The study group consisted of 64 moderate and severe obese adolescents and the controls were normal adolescents of the same age. body mass index (BMI) was calculated by height and weight; systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured at resting state. After 10-hour fasting period, blood cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, glucose, insulin, free fatty acid, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were measured. RESULTS: Insulin was significantly higher in the obese adolescent group than the control group (obese group 15.6+/-7.0 microIU/mL, P< 0.01). IGF-I was also significantly higher in the obese adolescent group than the control group (obese group 498.1+/-122.2 ng/mL, P< 0.05). In addition, IGFBP-3 was significantly higher in the obese adolescent group than the control group (obese group 3, 777+/-4, 721 ng/mL, P< 0.05). Insulin showed significantly positive correlation with BMI (r=0.3944) and obesity index (r= 0.34). IGFBP-3 were significantly correlated with obesity index (r=0.419), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.264) and BMI (r=0.247). Insulin resistance index significantly positive correlation with BMI (r= 0.595), blood triglycerid level (r=0.515) and obesity index (r=0.469). CONCLUSION: Serum insulin, insulin resistance index, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels may be useful to predict cardiovascular diseases in adolescent obesity.