Abstract
Background:
Animal models have shown that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) may mediate protein-induced kidney growth. Our aim was to analyze the effect of IGF-I on protein-induced kidney growth in healthy infants.
Methods:
This is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial that compared growth of infants fed with a higher-protein (HP) (n = 169) vs. lower-protein (LP) (n = 182) formula (in the first year of life). Outcome measures were anthropometric parameters, kidney volume (cm3), and total and free IGF-I (ng/ml).
Results:
The highest levels of total and free IGF-I were found in the HP group. Both parameters correlated significantly with BMI z-score (r = 0.229, P < 0.001 and r = 0.223, P < 0.001, respectively), kidney volume (r = 0.115, P = 0.006 and r = 0.208, P < 0.001, respectively), and kidney volume/body length (r = 0.109, P = 0.010 and r = 0.194, P < 0.001, respectively) at 6 mo. Linear regression analyses showed a significant effect of free IGF-I on kidney volume in models, including significant effects of HP formula and anthropometry. The structural equation model revealed a significant direct effect of the HP formula on kidney volume and an indirect effect mediated by free IGF-I.
Conclusion:
This study suggests that IGF-I partly mediates protein-induced kidney growth in healthy infants. IGF-I could be involved in a pathway for the programming of the renal system.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the European Childhood Obesity Project group and the laboratory personnel for their hard work. We also gratefully acknowledge statistical advice from Pilar Hernández (from the Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili) and Joan Fernández-Ballart (from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili). European Childhood Obesity Project group: J. Beyer, M. Fritsch, G. Haile, U. Handel, I. Hannibal, S. Kreichauf, I. Pawellek, S. Schiess, S. Verwied-Jorky, R. von Kries, and M. Weber (Children’s University Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Munich, Germany); M. Zaragoza-Jordana (Pediatrics Unit, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain); A. Dobrzańska, R. Janas, A. Wierzbicka, A. Stolarczyk, and J. Socha (Children’s Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland); C. Carlier, E. Dain, J.N. Van Hees, J. Hoyos, F. Martin, P. Poncelet, and A. Xhonneux (ULB Bruxelles and CHC, St Vincent Liege); E. Perrin (Danone Research Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Schiphol, The Netherlands); C. Agostoni, M. Giovannini, A. Re Dionigi, E. Riva, S. Scaglioni, F. Vecchi, and E. Verducci (University of Milan).
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Luque, V., Escribano, J., Grote, V. et al. Does insulin-like growth factor-1 mediate protein-induced kidney growth in infants?: A secondary analysis from a randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Res 74, 223–229 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2013.87
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pr.2013.87
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