The present invention provides methods and compositions for increasing the growth rates, alleviating the symptoms, or improving the metabolism of human patients having insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (IGFD). The invention relates to methods comprising administering insulin-like growth factor-I to a patient having a height which, at the time of treatment or prior to initial treatment with IGF-1, is at least about 2 standard deviations below normal for a subject of the same age and gender, a blood level of insulin-like growth factor-I that, and at the time of treatment or prior to initial treatment with IGF-1, is below normal mean levels, usually at least about 1 standard deviations below normal mean levels, for age and gender.