Total Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 and C-Reactive Protein in Metabolic Syndrome With or Without Diabetes

Abstract

There are only a few data on the relationship of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), implicated in glucose homeostasis, and C-reactive protein (CRP), a measure of subclinical systemic inflammation, in patients with the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The authors investigated, in a cross-sectional design, the correlation between total IGF-1 and CRP in 170 subjects. Among them 123 had the MetS (National Cholesterol Program ATP III definition) and 47 did not, and 136 had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and 34 did not. Anthropometric variables, clinical characteristics, as well as laboratory measurements, including total IGF-1 and CRP, were recorded. CRP levels showed a significant negative correlation with total IGF-1 concentrations, both in the whole study population (r = -0.252, p = 0.001) and the MetS group (r = -0.203, p = 0.025), regardless of the presence of DM. This correlation remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, and waist circumference (r = -0.18, p = 0.05). Both low IGF-1 and high CRP levels had an almost linear relationship with the number of MetS components (p = 0.029 and p = 0.020, respectively), suggesting a close relationship of both variables with the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk involved. The correlation between high CRP and low total IGF-1 might indicate that an increase in CRP levels may well be a key factor for the reduction in IGF-1 concentrations. Both factors are related to an increase in risk for MetS and CVD and this finding might have clinical implications in preventing or treating MetS, DM, and CVD. Given the cross-sectional design of the study, this finding should be confirmed by larger prospective and, it is hoped, interventional studies.

Serum IGF1, metabolic syndrome, and incident cardiovascular disease in older people: a population-based study

“…In cohorts with older subjects, the findings are more heterogeneous. A small study in older people showed an association of low IGF1 concentrations with the metabolic syndrome (24), although an Italian cohort demonstrated no significant associations in older women, and a trend toward higher IGF1 values in men with the metabolic syndrome (25,26). Most recently, Yeap et al (10) studied a cohort of men of 70 years and older and found a U-shaped relationship, with increased risks for metabolic syndrome at the lower and upper end of IGF1 concentrations.…”

Association of metabolic syndrome with insulin-like growth factors among adults in the US

“…In mice, it has been shown that low IGF-I leads to high insulin levels and increased serum lipid levels [18]. In human studies, however, the relationship of metabolic syndrome, or some of the components of metabolic syndrome, with IGF-I, IGF-BP3 or the ratio of IGF-I/IGF-BP3 has been examined only in small, patient-based or select populations [19][20][21][22][23][24] that are not population based or nationally representative. A recent nationally representative study of young adults found a low IGF-I/IGF-BP3 ratio to be significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome [25].…”

“…A recent nationally representative study of young adults found a low IGF-I/IGF-BP3 ratio to be significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome [25]. Although the results are inconsistent, many studies found decreased levels of IGF-I associated with components of metabolic syndrome [19,20,22,23]. Some examples include C-reactive protein, a marker of subclinical inflammation in metabolic syndrome and a risk factor for heart disease that is negatively correlated with IGF-I concentrations [23].…”

“…Although the results are inconsistent, many studies found decreased levels of IGF-I associated with components of metabolic syndrome [19,20,22,23]. Some examples include C-reactive protein, a marker of subclinical inflammation in metabolic syndrome and a risk factor for heart disease that is negatively correlated with IGF-I concentrations [23]. Similarly, high waist circumference and low HDL cholesterol are related to low IGF-I [19].…”

Prioritization of candidate disease genes for metabolic syndrome by computational analysis of its defining phenotypes

“…This dual role could explain the admixture of insulin resistance and sensitivity that is commonly observed in the metabolic syndrome (37). IGF1 Individuals with metabolic syndrome had lower IGF-1 levels than subjects without metabolic syndrome with an almost linear decline of IGF-1 levels as the number of fulfilled criteria of the metabolic syndrome (none to 5) increased (16). INSR A muscle-specific insulin receptor knockout exhibits features of the metabolic syndrome of NIDDM (10,25).…”