Association between Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and Uric Acid in Chinese Children and Adolescents with Idiopathic Short Stature: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and serum uric acid (UA) in Chinese children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature (ISS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 91 Chinese children and adolescents with ISS was performed. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters were tested. The standard deviation score of IGF-1 (IGF-1 SDS) was calculated. RESULTS: A univariate analysis displayed a significant positive correlation between IGF-1 SDS and UA (P = 0.004). In multivariate piecewise linear regression, the levels of IGF-1 SDS increased with the elevation of UA when UA was between 168 μmol/L and 301 μmol/L (β 0.010, 95% CI 0.004–0.017; P = 0.002). The levels of IGF-1 SDS decreased with the elevation of UA when UA was either less than 168 μmol/L (β −0.055, 95% CI −0.081–−0.028; P < 0.001) or more than 301 μmol/L (β −0.005, 95% CI −0.013–0.002; P = 0.174). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a nonlinear relationship between IGF-1 and UA levels in Chinese children and adolescents with ISS. This finding suggests that either high or low levels of UA may have an adverse effect on IGF-1, whereas appropriate UA levels have a beneficial effect.