In order to appraise type 1 insulin growth factor (IGF-1) as nutritional state marker in comparison with other known markers, seric IGF-1 (RIA), albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and retinol-bound protein were determined weekly in 15 patients with oropharyngeal neoplasm and 7 in the burns unit, all being administered enteral nutrition. At the beginning of the study, IGF-1 seric levels were significantly lower in the burns group compared with the neoplasm group (82.28 +/- 23.36 vs 137.58 +/- 66.2 ng/ml, p < 0.01). IGF-1 values in the first group were initially significantly lower in comparison with those for the same group at the end of the study (82.28-23.36 vs 177.11 +/- 53.87 ng/ml, p < 0.01 for paired data). No significant change was demonstrated in IGF-1 seric levels in the neoplasm group. IGF-1 seric levels showed a significant multiple correlation with albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and retinol-bound protein in both the group with burns (r = 0.696, p < 0.001) and that with neoplasms (r = 0.615, p < 0.001). The nitrogen balance revealed a univariant and significant linear correlation with IGF-1 (r = 0.373, p < 0.05) and with prealbumin (r = 0.377, p < 0.05). According to the data obtained, seric IGF-1 has a significant correlation with other well-known nutritional markers. In the burns group, the hypercatabolism was accompanied by a significant increase in seric IGF-1 levels.