Nutritional condition and IGF-1 and IGFBP-2 serum concentrations in students aged 7 to 9 attending two educational institutions

Abstract

Introduction: Nutritional vulnerability is more evident during childhood, since malnutrition has an impact on academic performance and is linked to different diseases during this period. Likewise, an increase in the incidence and prevalence of obesity in children has been observed, therefore, researches that assess nutritional conditions of children attending schools may have high-impact results in terms of public health.Objective: To relate children’s nutritional condition by using anthropometry, with serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and its binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2).Materials and methods: A cross-sectional observational and comparative study was performed in children aged 7 to 9 attending two schools, one from the public sector and the other from the private sector. An anthropometric assessment was performed in 157 children, while IGF-1 and IGFBP (enzyme immunoassay) serum concentrations were measured in 81 children. Pearson’s coefficient, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Dunnet’s test and Games Howell’s test, with a 95% confidence interval and a p0.05 statistical significance, were considered for performing the statistical analysis.Results: Overweight and obesity were found in 46 subjects; the prevalence of obesity was higher in boys, while overweight prevalence was higher in girls. A direct relation between IGF-1 and height (p0,05) was observed, while an inverse relation between IGFBP-2 and BMI (p0,001) was found.Conclusions: IGF-1 serum concentrations were higher in students attending the public school.

Introducción. Una de las etapas con mayor vulnerabilidad del estado nutricional es la infancia, pues en este periodo la desnutrición interfiere con el desempeño escolar y se asocia a enfermedades; asimismo, se ha observado aumento de la incidencia y prevalencia de obesidad en niños, por lo que investigaciones de evaluación nutricional en población escolar pueden tener alto impacto en salud pública.Objetivo. Relacionar el estado nutricional —antropometría— con niveles séricos del factor de crecimiento similares a la insulina 1 (IGF-1) y su proteína enlazante 2 (IGFBP-2).Materiales y métodos. Estudio observacional de corte transversal comparativo entre estudiantes de 7 a 9 años de dos colegios, uno público y otro privado, mediante el cual se realizó valoración antropométrica de 157 niños y medición de niveles séricos de IGF-1 e IGFBP-2 (enzimoinmunoanálisis) en 81 niños. Para el análisis estadístico se tuvo en cuenta coeficiente de Pearson, análisis de varianza (ANOVA), test de Dunnet y Games Howell, intervalo de confianza del 95% y significancia estadística de p0.05.Resultados. Se registró sobrepeso y obesidad en 46 sujetos; la obesidad fue más prevalente en niños mientras que el sobrepeso en niñas. Se encontró relación directa entre IGF-1 y talla (p0.05) y relación inversa entre IGFBP-2 e IMC (p0.001).Conclusiones. Las concentraciones séricas de IGF-1 fueron mayores en la institución pública.