SummaryOBJECTIVEThe expression and Synthesis of IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 have been shown to be regulated by hormones and nutrition. We study the effects of malnutrition and iodine deficiency on these growth factors and the height attainment of a group of children.DESIGNWe measured serum IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 levels in a group of Malaysian aborigine children from three jungle settlements; Sinderut and Pos Lanai are known for iodine deficiency and endemic goitre, and Gombak is an iodine replete area with better socioeconomic status.PATIENTSA total of 246 children were studied, 188 In the age group 4–10 years and 88 in the age group 11–15 years.MEASUREMENTSAll children were assessed anthropo‐metrically and height standard deviation score (SDS) were calculated using the CDC Anthropometric Software package. Malnutrition was confirmed clinically and according to the WHO definition of malnutrition. IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 were determined by radioimmunoassay, and T4 and TSH by immunoradiometric assay.RESULTSBased on the height SDS, Sinderut and Pos Lanai children were significantly more malnourished and stunted than the Gombak childrenP= 0 0001). T4 levels were significantly lower (P= 0.0001) amongst the 4–10‐years old Sinderut (87 ± 2nmol/l) than In Pos Lanai (101 ± 3nmol/l) or Gombak (123 ± 3 nmol/l) children. Similar findings were also seen in the older children; mean T4 levels of those from Sinderut and Pos Lanai (83 ± 3 and 88 ± 4 nmol/l respectively), were low (P= 0.0001) compared to Gombak (118 ± 3 nmol/l). Conversely, TSH levels in both age groups of Slnderut children were significantly elevated (P= 0.0001) (3.5 ± 0.2 and 3.9 ± 0.3mU/l respectively) compared to age‐matched groups from Pos Lanai (2.1 ± 0.1 and 2.2 ± 0.2 mU/l respectively) and Gombak (1.5 ± 0.1 and 1.5 f 0.2mU/l respectively). IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 correlated significantly with the height SDS of the children, in both the 4–10 (r= 0.400,P= 0 0001 andr= 0.365,P= 0.0001 respectively) and 11–15 years age groups (r= 0.324,P= 0.002 andr =0.533,P= 0.0001 respectively). Correlation between IGFBP‐3 and T4 levels was more significant In the younger children (r= 0.412,P= 0.0001). Association between IGF‐I and T4 levels was significant only in the 4–10 years age group (i = 0 237,P= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Varying duration and degree of exposure to malnutrition and Iodine deficiency resulted in different mean levels of T4, TSH, IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 in the three areas. The strong positive associations between IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 levels and height SDS suggest that these biochemical measurements are Indeed useful indicators of growth and nutritional status in children. The significant correlations between T4 and IGFBP‐3 and IGF‐I suggests the Importance of thyroid hormones in regulating the synthesis of these growth factors. The age‐related Increase of these growth factors even amongst mainourlshed, iodine deficient children implies that age‐matched reference