To study the relationships between serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-2 and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thirty-seven patients (18 males, 19 females, aged 8.8–26.1 years) with IBD (Crohn’s disease, CD, n= 17, and ulcerative colitis, UC, n= 20) were studied. Patients were in relapse or remission according to established criteria. Serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-2, IL-1β and IL-6 levels were determined in patients and 15 healthy controls (aged 8.2–19.0 years). IGF-1 levels were lower in patients with CD in relapse compared with controls (p< 0.05). IGFBP-2 levels were higher in CD in relapse compared with other groups (all p< 0.05). In CD and UC patients (n= 37), IGF-1 levels were inversely correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). IGFBP-2 levels correlated positively with ESR and IL-1β. IL-6 levels correlated positively with ESR and CRP. IL-1β levels were elevated in CD in relapse compared to controls (p< 0.05) and were higher in UC in relapse than in other groups (all p< 0.05). In combined CD/UC patients in relapse (n= 20), IL-1β levels were higher (p< 0.05) in patients with recto-sigmoiditis (n= 5) than in other patients. IGF-1, IGFBP-2 levels were related to IL levels, disease activity and anatomical distribution, consistent with active inflammation modifying the IGF-IGFBP system, possibly relevant to disturbance of growth.