The relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 and metabolic syndrome, independent of adiponectin

► The first study to analyze the relationship among IGF-1, adiponectin and metabolic syndrome in large scale. ► MetS prevalence in both high IGF-1 and adiponectin group was lower than in other groups. ► Both high IGF-1 and adiponectin group was associated with reduced MetS risk after fully adjusting. ► Our research provides that IGF-1 was associated with MetS independent of adiponectin.