IGF-1 Levels Linked to Fatty Liver Disease Progression and Biomarker Potential

The global prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), commonly known as fatty liver disease, is rapidly increasing, yet its underlying causes (pathogenesis) remain poorly understood, and effective treatments are limited. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a key hormone in the somatotropic pathway (which regulates growth and metabolism), has been consistently associated with the development and progression of liver steatosis. This review addresses the knowledge gap by synthesizing existing evidence on the precise roles and mechanisms of IGF-1 in MASLD pathogenesis.

The review consistently found a strong association between decreased IGF-1 levels and the development and progression of MASLD across multiple clinical studies in both children and adults. It highlighted various proposed mechanisms from in vivo, in vitro, and ex-vivo studies, detailing how IGF-1 influences lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis in the liver. Furthermore, the authors noted that interventions improving metabolic health often correlate with a restoration of the suppressed GH-IGF-1 axis, suggesting a potential pathway for therapeutic intervention. The most significant finding is the strong indication that IGF-1 levels could serve as a non-invasive biomarker for monitoring MASLD disease progression and therapeutic response, offering a practical tool for clinical management.