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Epidemiologic survey: reference ranges of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in Caucasian adult population with immunoradiometric assay

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Abstract

Gender, age adjusted, population based reference ranges are necessary to use insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) as a diagnostic marker or for therapeutic monitoring in growth hormone (GH) related diseases. The aim of the present study was to describe the serum IGF-1 distribution and to calculate age and gender specific reference values for Caucasian adult population. A representative sample of 1002 male and 1039 female, totally 2041 participants aged above 18 years old was examined. The subjects suffering from diabetes mellitus, renal diseases, liver diseases, cancer, or diseases of pituitary gland were excluded by medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. The subjects were not using any drug that could affect IGF-1 levels. Body mass index (BMI) >30 or <18 kg/m2 were excluded. Serum IGF-1 concentrations were determined by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Serum IGF-1 concentrations were declined with age in both males and females after the age of 18. Males had significantly higher serum IGF-1 levels than females in the age groups 18–24, 50–69 (P < 0.05), but not in others (P > 0.05). The present study established age and gender specific reference ranges for serum IGF-1 levels calculated for Caucasian adult population with IRMA that could be used in medical practice.

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Acknowledgments

This study has been designed, directed, and supported by the Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Turkey (SEMT). We thank Ankara University Medical School Endocrinology Laboratory, Erciyes University Medical School Laboratory. Novartis Oncology, Turkey, for providing partial grant support for the determination of plasma samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Fahri Bayram & Kürşat Gündoğan

  2. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical School, İbni Sina Hospital, Ankara University, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey

    Vedia Tonyukuk Gedik, Özgür Demir, Rıfat Emral, Ali Rıza Uysal & Demet Çorapçıoğlu

  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, School of Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Ahmet Kaya

  4. Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Ahmet Öztürk

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  1. Fahri Bayram
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Bayram, F., Gedik, V.T., Demir, Ö. et al. Epidemiologic survey: reference ranges of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in Caucasian adult population with immunoradiometric assay. Endocrine 40, 304–309 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-011-9476-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-011-9476-z

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