Insulin-like growth factor-1 and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systemic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Endocrine Vol. 65; no. 2; pp. 227 - 237
• Main Authors: Yao, Yang, Miao, Xiangxia, Zhu, Donglie, Li, Dongmin, Zhang, Ying, Song, Chengyan, Liu, Kaige
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Body mass index; Diabetes; Endocrinology; Fatty liver; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Insulin; Insulin-like growth factor I; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; Insulin-like growth factors; Internal Medicine; Liver diseases; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meta-analysis; multidisciplinary; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - blood; Review; Science; Therapeutic applications; Asia; Europe; Heterogeneity; Insulin resistance; NAFLD; IGF-1; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 1355-008X; 1559-0100
• DOI: 10.1007/s12020-019-01982-1

Aim The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing worldwide. A number of researchers have studied the relationship between Insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) and NAFLD. However, the results are controversial. This meta-analysis, aimed to systemically evaluate the correlation between IGF-1 and NAFLD. Methods We searched for four online databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and CNKI up to Feb 2018. We then applied a random-effects model to evaluate the overall effect sizes by calculating Standard mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Twelve articles were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed that the level of IGF-1 in the control group was significantly higher than that in the NAFLD group. (SMD: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.54–1.46, P  < 0.00001). However, significant heterogeneity was discovered among the included studies ( P  < 0.00001, I 2  = 96%). Then a series of subgroup analyses were performed. Compared to the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) group, the level of IGF-1 was significantly higher in the Non- or probable-NASH group (SMD: 1.42, 95% CI: 0.25–2.58, P  = 0.02). The level of IGF-1 in patients with increased insulin resistance (SMD: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.36–0.63; P  < 0.00001) and high Body Mass Index (SMD: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.22–0.79; P  < 0.05) were significantly lower than healthy control. In addition, the same conclusion were found in studies carried out in Asia and Europe (Asia: SMD: 0.69, 95% CI: −0.29–1.66, P  = 0.17; Europe: SMD: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.41–1.38, P  < 0.05). Conclusion The level of IGF-1 is down-regulated in NAFLD patients compared to healthy controls, suggesting that IGF-1 might be used as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for NAFLD.