We compared circulating levels of: a) proglucagon-derived hormones (glucagon-like peptide [GLP]-1, GLP-2, glicentin, oxyntomodulin, glucagon, major proglucagon fragment [MPGF]), b) follistatins-activins (follistatin-like [FSTL]3, activin B), c) IGF axis (insulin-like growth factor [IGF]-1, total and intact IGF binding protein [IGFBP]-3 and IGFBP-4, and pregnancy associated plasma protein [PAPP]-A) in two studies: a) 18 individuals with early stage NAFLD vs. 14 controls (study 1; early NAFLD study) and in b) 31 individuals with biopsy proven NAFLD (15 with simple steatosis [SS] and 16 with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis [NASH]), vs. 50 controls (24 lean and 26 obese) (study 2).
In logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, gender, and race/ethnicity, higher IGF-1 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 quartiles were associated with lower likelihood of NAFLD and lower grade steatosis.
The levels of serum IGF-I in the enrolled patients declined in proportion to the severity of hepatic steatosis, whereas serum IGFBP-3 levels did not affect its severity.