Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Axis Changes in Fasting Among Healthy and Prediabetic Men: A Case-Control Study

Objective: Energy deprivation induces changes in various components of the “growth hormone”/“insul in-like growth factor-I” axis; however, it remains unclear whether Ramadan fasting could alter which ones in response to food deprivation. In this study, changes in the components of the mentioned axis during the fasting month of Ramadan are assessed.

Methods: Sixty-nine healthy men were studied while fasting during Ramadan. Participants are divided into 2 groups of control (without risk of diabetes mellitus [n=30]) and cases (with risk factors of DM [n=39]). Serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, and “insulin-like growth factorbinding protein-3” were assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The “homeostasis model assessment to quantify insulin resistance” was also calculated.

Results: Fasting increased circulating growth hormone, while decreased serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment to quantify insulin resistance index levels in both groups significantly. Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I and homeostasis model assessment to quantify insulin resistance index were found to be significantly higher in the cases group than in the controls at baseline. Fasting induced a more prominent reduction in serum insulin-like growth factor-I in the cases group than in the controls (P = .014 vs. P = .257). Although serum insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 level was not different between groups at baseline or 1 month after Ramadan fasting, the insulin-like growth factor-I:insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 ratio was decreased more in the cases group than the control group during fasting (P < .001 vs. P = .070).

Conclusion: Fasting plays an effective role in regulating the studied elements of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I axis which may help improve the metabolic status induced by insulin resistance in men at risk of diabetes mellitus.

Cite this article as: Reza Sheikh Rezaee M, Abediankenari S, Islami Parkoohi P, Daneshvar F, Ahmadzadeh Amiri A. Insulin-like growth factor-I axis changes in fasting among healthy and prediabetic men: A case-control study. Endocrinol Res Pract. 2023;27(1):15-20.