ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: The complex interplay between nutritional status, body mass index (BMI), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is pivotal in understanding pediatric growth. Our study investigates these relationships to enhance growth outcomes in children.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of nutritional interventions on BMI, height growth velocity, and IGF-1 levels in 125 underweight children aged 2-10, who underwent a year-long program of nutritional counseling and oral nutritional supplements (ONS).

Methodology: This longitudinal study assessed the children’s growth parameters pre and post-intervention, focusing on the impact of nutritional supplementation on their growth dynamics. The intervention aimed at improving their overall nutritional status, thereby influencing their growth rates and IGF-1 levels.

Results: Our comprehensive analysis yielded several significant findings:

• Nutritional supplementation was strongly associated with increases in height growth velocity, confirming its role as a catalyst in enhancing pediatric growth.

• We observed a robust positive relationship between IGF-1 levels and height growth velocity; higher IGF-1 levels were consistently linked to significant improvements in growth velocity, emphasizing the hormone's central role in growth regulation.

• The analysis also revealed a significant association between increased IGF-1 levels and elevated BMI, suggesting that enhanced nutritional status through our intervention positively influenced IGF-1 production, which in turn contributed to growth acceleration.

• Substantial improvements in BMI and height standard deviation scores (SDS) were recorded post-intervention, reflecting the efficacy of the nutritional strategy in promoting overall growth and development.

• The intervention’s impact extended beyond growth metrics; it also showed potential in modifying the growth trajectory favorably, as evidenced by the improved nutritional status and its positive influence on IGF-1 and growth velocity. These findings collectively highlight the effectiveness of targeted nutritional interventions in stimulating significant positive changes in key growth indicators among underweight children.

Comments: The positive correlations observed between nutritional supplementation, IGF-1 levels, height growth velocity, and BMI underline the multifaceted benefits of our nutritional intervention, showcasing its potent capacity to enhance pediatric growth and nutritional status effectively.

Conclusion: The study confirms the positive impact of nutritional interventions on growth metrics in underweight children, facilitated by mechanisms involving IGF-1. The data reinforce the importance of integrating nutritional strategies into pediatric care to promote optimal growth and highlight the need for ongoing research to optimize these interventions for children’s health and development.