Acute IGF-1 deficiency in multiple trauma victims

Abstract The circulating levels of IGF-1 in the catabolic flow phase of injury were measured in multiple trauma victims once before nutritional support and again after 4 days of intravenous feeding. The hypermetabolic and highly catabolic state of injury is characterized by a diminished level of IGF-1 along with increased levels of stress hormones. Inverse relationships of adiposity and aging on IGF-1 levels are seen both in injured and uninjured subjects. Feeding could restore the IGF-1 levels in non-obese, young patients but it is delayed in obese or elderly subjects. This diminished responsiveness to feeding of IGF-1 hormone deficiency in obese and elderly subjects should be taken into consideration in their post-trauma treatment and may warrant adjuvant administration in these types of patients.