Does the insulin-like growth factor axis influence the lipid profile in toddlers?

Johanna Neiß of the Comprehensive Childhood Research Center at the Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital in Germany shares insights on a secondary analysis of data from the Toddler Milk Intervention (ToMI) trial, as presented at ESPGHAN 2025. In this study, healthy toddlers were randomized to receive young child formula with either higher or lower protein content. Blood concentrations of Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3), and lipid profiles were measured at 12 and 24 months of age. Results suggest associations between IGF-1 and its binding proteins and serum lipid levels in toddlers, suggesting a potential role in the development of dyslipidemia in this age group.​