Association of IGF-1 Levels With Height From Childhood to Adulthood: An Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest that IGF-1 normal variation has small effects on height in childhood and on final adult height.
Study context
- Population
- GIANT Consortium genome-wide association study (GWAS) participants excluding UK Biobank (Non-Hispanic White, African, South Asian, East Asian, Hispanic descent); Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) children with IGF-1 measured at ages 7 to 11 years and height at ages 7 to 17 years
- Exposure
- Genetically predicted and measured serum IGF-1 vs height
- Outcome
- Causal effect of serum IGF-1 on adult height
Methodological detailstwo-sample Mendelian randomization, inverse-variance weighted, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses
- Two-sample Mendelian randomization
- Inverse-variance weighted
- Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adult height per 1 SD increase in IGF-1 (inverse-variance weighted Mendelian randomization (MR)) · adulthood
Taller adult height per 1 SD increase in IGF-1
0.09 SD
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Height at ages 7 to 17 years in ALSPAC
- Measured IGF-1 at ages 7 to 8 years and IGF-1 genetic risk score (GRS) positively associated with height, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses
- Adjusted for sex, body mass index (BMI) and pubertal stage
Original publication
Association of IGF-1 Levels With Height From Childhood to Adulthood: An Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 29 September 2025. doi:10.
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