| Table 2: Comparison of confounding variables between cases and controls. Values are mean (SD), median (IQR), or n (%) | |||
| Variable | Cases (n=48) | Controls (n=112) | p value | 
| TSH (mIU/mL) | 3.31 (6.76 to 2.64) | 3.24 (4.56 to 2.14) | 0.299 | 
| IGF-1 (ng/mL) | 66.74 (95.27 to 50.70) | 112.57 (174.27 to 74.87) | <0.001 | 
| Zn (mg/dL)* | 98.4 (24.3) | 107.7 (26.9) | 0.078 | 
| Hb (g/dL) | 12.8 (0.9) | 13.1 (1.0) | 0.024 | 
| Albumin (g/dL) | 4.5 (0.3) | 4.6 (0.3) | 0.409 | 
| Energy intake (kcal) | 1408 (464) | 1327 (480) | 0.174 | 
| Protein intake (g) | 52.3 (21.7) | 50.0 (21.9) | 0.472 | 
| TSH level | |||
| Hypothyroid | 16 (33%) | 28 (25.0%) | 0.374 | 
| Non-hypothyroid | 32 (67%) | 84 (75.0%) | |
| IGF-1 level | |||
| Low | 38 (79%) | 37 (33.0%) | <0.001 | 
| Normal | 10 (21%) | 75 (67.0%) | |
| Zinc level* | |||
| Low | 3 (10%) | 9 (9%) | 1.000 | 
| Normal | 28 (90%) | 87 (91%) | |
| Hemoglobin level | |||
| Anemia | 8 (17%) | 10 (8.9%) | 0.252 | 
| Normal | 40 (83%) | 102 (91.1%) | |
| Albumin level | |||
| Low | 0 (0%) | 0 (0.0%) | NA | 
| Normal | 48 (100%) | 112 (100.0%) | |
| Iron adequacy level | |||
| Low | 40 (83%) | 104 (92.9%) | 0.121 | 
| Sufficient | 8 (17%) | 8 (7.1%) | |
| Energy adequacy level | |||
| Low | 26 (54%) | 91 (81.3%) | 0.001 | 
| Sufficient | 22 (46%) | 21 (18.7%) | |
| Protein adequacy level | |||
| Low | 14 (29%) | 56 (50.0%) | 0.024 | 
| Sufficient | 34 (71%) | 56 (50.0%) | |
| History of infections | |||
| Yes | 3 (6%) | 15 (13.4%) | 0.300 | 
| No | 45 (94%) | 97 (86.6%) | |
| History of LBW† | |||
| Yes | 4 (9%) | 6 (5.9%) | 0.728 | 
| No | 40 (91%) | 96 (94.1%) | |
| *Cases=31, Controls=96; †Cases=44, Controls=102; NA=Not analyzed | |||