Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)

IGF-1 is like your body’s growth promoter, aiding in cellular growth and regeneration, crucial for development and health.

📋 About This Biomarker

IGF-1 acts much like a foreman on a construction site, overseeing the growth and repair of your bones, muscles, and tissues. This hormone, closely related to insulin, plays a pivotal role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects in adults - meaning it helps build and maintain muscle and bone tissue. Produced in the liver and triggered by growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary gland, IGF-1 not only supports physical stature but also influences how your body metabolises sugar, playing a key role in overall metabolic health.

🎯 Why We Test This

Testing for IGF-1 is important if you're assessing hormone health in adults, where abnormal levels might indicate pituitary disorders. It's also used to monitor the effectiveness of growth hormone therapy. For adults, knowing your IGF-1 levels can help gauge overall health, as low levels are often associated with aging and decreased muscle strength, while high levels can indicate potential endocrine problems.

⚠️ What Affects It

Factors that influence IGF-1 include age, nutrition, liver health, hormonal status, and overall physical health. Growth hormone levels fluctuate with stress, sleep quality, and exercise, all of which can impact IGF-1. Certain genetic conditions and diseases like liver cirrhosis or diabetes can also alter IGF-1 levels.

📈 How to Improve

Balancing IGF-1 involves a holistic approach to hormone health. For high levels, reducing factors that spur excessive growth hormone, such as certain medications or tumors, is crucial. For low levels, enhancing diet quality, ensuring adequate protein intake, and engaging in regular resistance and strength training can help naturally boost growth hormone and IGF-1. Regular monitoring and consultation with a healthcare provider are essential to maintain optimal levels.

📊 Understanding Your Results (nmol/L)

Low (< 14 nmol/L)
Low IGF-1 levels can indicate a deficiency in growth hormone, which might manifest as decreased bone density, muscle weakness, and altered lipid metabolism. This condition, often seen in older adults, can increase the risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Treatment might include lifestyle interventions or hormone replacement therapy under medical guidance.
Optimal (14 - 42 nmol/L)
Normal IGF-1 levels indicate healthy bone and muscle development and maintenance, as well as balanced hormone levels. This suggests that your metabolic functions related to growth and sugar metabolism are in good working order, supporting overall vitality and well-being. If IGF-1 levels are approaching the upper boundary, it might indicate early signs of excessive growth hormone activity. While not immediately harmful, it's beneficial to monitor these levels regularly to prevent potential health issues related to overgrowth or metabolic dysfunction. Slightly low IGF-1 levels can be a precursor to decreased vitality and might contribute to aging symptoms like reduced muscle mass and bone density. Keeping an eye on these levels can help you take early steps to boost your health through nutrition, exercise, and possibly hormone optimisation.
High (> 42 nmol/L)
Elevated IGF-1 levels can suggest that your body is producing too much growth hormone, which might lead to conditions like acromegaly in adults - where bones become abnormally enlarged and cause various complications. High IGF-1 can also be a sign of a pituitary tumor, which requires medical evaluation and management.
Also known as: Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1