Effect of anthelmintic treatment on serum free IGF-1 and IGFBP-3: a cluster-randomized-controlled trial in Indonesia

Kurniawan, F.; Tahapary, D.L.; Ruiter, K. de; Yunir, E.; Biermasz, N.R.; Smit, J.W.A.; ... ; Soewondo, P. (2020)

Article / Letter to editor

In children, soil-transmitted helminth infections have been linked to poor nutritional status and growth retardation in association with lower levels of IGF-1. In adults, IGF-1 has an anabolic and metabolic function and is related to nutritional status. Here, we assessed the impact of helminth infection on free IGF-1 and its major binding protein, IGFBP-3, in adults. The levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP3 were measured in 1669 subjects aged >= 16 years, before and after receiving four rounds of albendazole 400 mg/day or matching placebo for three consecutive days. Helminth infection status was assessed by microscopy (Kato-Katz) and PCR. Serum free IGF-1 level was significantly lower in helminth-infected subjects [mean difference and 95% CI - 0.068 (- 0.103; - 0.033), P < 0.001 after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and fasting insulin level]. There was no difference in IGFBP-3 level between helminth infected versus non-infected subjects. In the whole study population, albendazole treatment significantly increased serum free IGF-1 level [estimate and 95% CI 0.031 (0.004; - 0.057), P = 0.024] whereas no effect was found on the IGFBP-3 level. Our study showed that helminth infection in adults is associated with lower free IGF-1 levels but not with IGFBP-3 and albendazole treatment significantly increases free IGF-1 levels in the study population.

• All authors: Kurniawan, F.; Tahapary, D.L.; Ruiter, K. de; Yunir, E.; Biermasz, N.R.; Smit, J.W.A.; Supali, T.; Sartono, E.; Yazdanbakhsh, M.; Soewondo, P.
• Date: 2020-11-04
• Journal: Scientific Reports
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• DOI: doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75781-4
• Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75781-4