IGF-1 or Insulin-like growth factors-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that is vital in promoting growth.

IGF-1 is an important growth hormone, mediating the protein anabolic and linear growth promoting effect of pituitary Growth Hormone. Growth hormone is secreted from the pituitary gland and goes to the liver. In the liver, GH stimulates the production of IGF-1. In turn, IGF-1 goes to the growth plates in the bones for growth.

Our bones need enough growth hormone during our childhood and adolescence in order to lengthen to adult proportions. Growth hormone prompts our liver to make a substance called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). This and other similar compounds are involved in bone growth.

Some children may have growth problems during the period from birth to pre-adolescence due to health problems or malnutrition and lack of adequate rest. This makes this group of children smaller in size and height than the standard for normal children of the same age. The research found that this group of children can grow equal to or higher than peers of the same age if the body is stimulated to secrete more IGF-1 during the period when children can develop during growth spurt period and result in the final height of this group of children can increase height equal to or greater than their peers or genetic height.

IGF-I thus becomes an important growth hormone. Studies have shown that increased IGF-I can help stimulate musculoskeletal growth in early childhood and is a potent protein synthesis activator in skeletal tissues such as muscle, bone and cartilage. These three tissues are responsible for the secretion of IGF-I and IGF-I concentration is an important factor in maintaining normal skeletal mass. IGF-I contributes to bone size increase. and also increase bone density

Functional differences between growth hormone and the key hormone IGF-1