Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF binding proteins in active Crohn's disease treated with -3 or -6 fatty acids and corticosteroids

Objective. Catabolism and growth impairment are well-known complications of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This may be caused by the disease activity itself and/or the medical treatment, and both may lead to changes in the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of enteral nutrition, Impact Powder®, as adjuvant therapy to corticosteroid treatment on changes in the GH/IGF-I axis in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Material and methods. The patients were randomized to 3-IP ( -3-fatty acid (FA), 3 g/day) or 6-IP ( -6-FA, 9 g/day). Changes in total IGF-I (tIGF-I) and total IGF-II (tIGF-II), free IGF-I (fIGF-I), IGF binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3), IGFBP-3 protease activity and insulin levels were examined in 31 patients with active CD (CDAI: 186-603) during treatment with prednisolone (40 mg for 1 week) and tapering the dose by 5 mg/week. Clinical and biochemical markers of inflammation were studied at day 0, and after 5 and 9 weeks. Results. There were no differences at baseline between the two groups. During the treatment period, tIGF-I, fIGF-I and IGFBP-3 increased significantly in both groups compared to baseline (p