Background
Advanced glycosylation end product (AGE) formation is a major mechanism for the development of complications in diabetes, and the possible roles of insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP‐3) are not clearly established.
Methods
We examined the associations of AGEs, free IGF‐I and IGFBP‐3 in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients under diverse conditions. In a cross‐sectional design we studied 110 subjects (67 women and 43 men): non‐diabetic controls in group 1, (n=15) and diabetes patients as follows: group 2, without complications (n=25); group 3, with chronic complications (n=25); group 4, with acute or chronic infections (n=24); group 5, hospitalized for reasons unrelated to diabetes (n=9); group 6, with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) (n=12). AGEs were determined by a spectrofluorometric method (HPLC). Insulin and IGFBP‐3 were measured by RIA and free IGF‐1 with an IRMA method.
Results
AGEs were 13‐fold higher in patients with ESRD (p<0.001), and lower in healthy individuals. Free IGF‐1 was lower in the patients with complications (p=0.017), with infections (p=0.006) and hospitalized (p=0.04). IGFBP‐3 was higher in hospitalized patients (p=0.017). AGEs were associated with free IGF‐1 (r=0.41, p=0.04) in the group with complications, and with HbA1c (r=−0.90, p=0.002) in hospitalized patients. In the total group, free IGF‐1 (r=−0.25, p=0.008), and IGFBP‐3 (r=−0.22, p=0.021) were associated with HbA1c.
Conclusion
We concluded that AGEs were markedly increased in diabetic patients with ESRD, IGF‐1 was decreased in patients with infections and hospitalized, and was negatively associated with HbA1c. IGFBP‐3 was increased in hospitalized patients, with higher levels in patients with long bone fractures. A complex interaction of humoral factors may participate in the acceleration of complications of diabetes. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.