Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background Low insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) have been associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and atrial fibrillation in cross-sectional studies. Yet, prospective data linking IGF-1 levels to the development of ischemic stroke remain inconclusive. We examined prospectively the association between serum IGF-1 levels and incident ischemic stroke. Methods We measured serum IGF-1 levels in 757 elderly individuals (mean age 79±5, 62% women), free of prevalent stroke, from the Framingham original cohort participants at the 22nd examination cycle (1990-1994) and were followed up for the development of ischemic stroke. Cox models were used to relate IGF-1 levels to the risk for incident ischemic stroke, adjusted for potential confounders. Results During a mean follow-up of 10.2 years, 99 individuals developed ischemic stroke. After adjustment for age, sex and potential confounders, higher IGF-1 levels were associated with a lower risk of incident ischemic stroke with subjects in the lowest quintile of IGF-1 levels having a 2.3-fold higher risk of incident ischemic stroke (95% CI: 1.09-5.06, p=0.03) as compared to the top quintile. We observed an effect modification by diabetes and waist-hip ratio (WHR) for the association between IGF-1 and ischemic stroke (p<0.1). In subgroup analyses, the effects were restricted to diabetics and those in top WHR quartile, in whom each standard deviation increase in IGF-1 was associated with a 61% (HR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.20-0.78, p=0.007), and 41% (HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.37-0.95, p=0.031) lower risk of incident ischemic stroke, respectively. Conclusions IGF-1 levels were inversely associated with ischemic stroke, especially among persons with insulin resistance.

The relation between insulin‐like growth factor 1 levels and risk of depression in ischemic stroke

“…Insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) plays an important role in brain development and normal growth . IGF‐1 reduces the progression of atherosclerosis, and in cross‐sectional studies, low circulating IGF‐1 is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke . In humans, low levels of IGF‐1 are associated with stroke risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease .…”

“…1 IGF-1 reduces the progression of atherosclerosis, and in cross-sectional studies, low circulating IGF-1 is associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. 2 In humans, low levels of IGF-1 are associated with stroke risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. [3][4][5] Previous studies regarding stroke patients have suggested that low IGF-1 levels in the circulation are related with higher stroke severity, poor outcome, and less rates of survival after stroke.…”

Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A Accelerates Atherosclerosis by Regulating Reverse Cholesterol Transport and Inflammation

“…The levels of IGF-1 are associated with cardiovascular disease risk. 30, 31 It is known that IGF-1 activates the PI3K/Akt pathway and promotes the synthesis of nitric oxide to prevent cardiovascular disease. 32, 33 Several studies…”

A comprehensive contribution of genetic variations of the insulin-like growth factor 1 signalling pathway to stroke susceptibility

“…A case-control study of ischaemic stroke (IS) in a Korean population observed that common variants in IGF1 genes (rs2162679 and rs6214) exhibited protective effects on the development of IS [12]. Epidemiological studies revealed that the levels of circulating IGF1 and IGFBP3 below normal range were associated with the increased morbidity and mortality from ischaemic heart disease and stroke [13][14][15]. In addition, evidence supported that the prevalence of hypertension-induced cerebral haemorrhages and acute ischaemic stroke dramatically increased in people with a declining circulating IGF1 [16][17][18].…”