Serum insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 level correlated with glycemic control and lipid profiles in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Increasing evidence suggests a role of the IGF axis in the maintenance of normal glucose and lipid metabolism. The local IGF-IGFBP environment changes significantly in response to the diabetes milieu. We aimed at determining serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their relationship with clinical variables. Seventy-eight patients with T1DM and 47 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Significant reduction for concentration of serum IGF-1 was observed in patients with T1DM compared to healthy controls. However, serum IGFBP-3 levels were similar in patients with T1DM compared to controls. Both serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly correlated with age, BMI, and serum c-peptide levels. In addition, serum IGFBP-3 levels showed significant positive correlation with HbA1c, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in the uncontrolled diabetic patients. These findings suggest that IGFBP-3 may be involved in the glucose control and lipid metabolism in those with uncontrolled T1DM. Further studies are needed to document their roles on glucose and lipid metabolism in T1DM.