Insulin-like growth factor I response during nutritional rehabilitation ofpersistent diarrhoea

Objective-Evaluation of nutritional recovery, intestinal permeability, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) response in malnourished children with persistent diarrhoea and their relation to concomitant systemic infection( s). Study design-Open study of severely malnourished children (aged 6-36 months ) with persistent diarrhoea (greater than or equal to 14 days) admitted for nutritional rehabilitation with a standardised rice-lentil and yogurt diet . Successful recovery was defined prospectively as overall weight gain (> 5 g/kg/day) with a reduction in stool output by day 7 of treatment. Data on coexisting infections and serum C reactive protein (CRP) were collected at admission. Results-Of 63 children, 48 (group A) recovered within seven days of dietary treatment. These children had a significant increase in serum IGF-I (Delta IGF-I%) and, in contrast to serum prealbumin and retinol binding protein, Delta IGF-I% correlated with weight gain (r=0.41). There was no correlation between the IGF-I response and intestinal permeability as assessed by urin ary lactulose/rhamnose excretion. Treatment failures (group B) included mor e children with clinical (relative risk, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 19.7) and culture proven sepsis at admission and higher concentrations o f serum CRP (median (range), 36 (0-182) v 10 (0-240) mg/l) at admission. Th ere was a negative correlation between admission CRP concentration and Delt a IGF-I% (r=-0.45). Conclusions-In comparison with serum albumin, prealbumin, and retinol bindi ng protein, serum IGF-I increment is a better marker of nutritional recover y in malnourished children with persistent diarrhoea. The possible associat ion of systemic infections, serum IGF-I response, and mucosal recovery need s evaluation in future studies.