IS LINEAR GROWTH RETARDATION IN EARLY LIFE DUE TO NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES OR ABNORMAL SECRETION OF GROWTH FACTORS?

Liu YX ^{1, 3}, Sheng HP ² & Karlberg J ¹

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Queen Mary Hospital

² Department of Physiology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

³ Children’s Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China

Objective: The aim of this study was to study the causes in terms of serum factors (including iron, zinc, calcium, copper, ferritin and growth factors) for linear growth.

Methods: This study was a community-based prospective study, with 101 infants examined at 12 and 15 mo of age undertaken in Chongqing, China. Serum iron, zinc, calcium and copper were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and serum ferritin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP₃) by radioimmunoassay or immuno- radiometric assay.

Results: Both stunted growth (length-for-age standard deviation score (SDS) < -2) and growth stunting (lower length growth velocity) were prevalent. Significant deficiencies were found for hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, calcium, and IGF-I. Analysis of variance did not reveal significant differences (P < 0.05) in the mean values of the factors between normal and growth stunting infants. However, regression analysis found serum iron related to linear growth, and ferritin to length growth velocity with adjustment of possible co-factors. Bivariate correlation analysis showed different correlation patterns in IGF-I, IGFBP₃, zinc, and ferritin in the two groups.

Conclusion: We conclude that iron deficiency was one of the causes of linear growth retardation presented in the population. IGF-I or IGFBP₃, however, seems not to be the causes.

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