Association of IGF-1 with Mortality, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer

IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) is a peptide hormone, produced predominantly by the liver in response to pituitary GH (growth hormone).[1] IGF-1 is involved in a wide variety of physiological processes. In adults, IGF-1 has metabolic and anabolic effects, and it mediates many of the effects of GH.[2-4]

GH and IGF-1 levels are reduced with normal aging, a phenomenon called somatopause.[5-7] It has been suggested that somatopause is an age-related GH deficiency state.[5] Somatopause has been considered to contribute to physiological deterioration seen with aging, like reduced muscle mass, reduced exercise tolerance, decreased strength, osteoporosis, increased fat mass, elevated cardiovascular risk, impaired quality of life, cognitive/memory decline and reduced immunity.[7-12] These changes are similar to those seen in classic (non-aging related) GH deficiency (GHD).[13, 14]

Consequences of high and low levels of GH and IGF-1

It is well-documented that abnormally high levels of IGF-1, seen in acromegaly, are associated with higher mortality and a higher prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular disease.[15] And vice versa, in hypopituitarism, abnormally low levels of IGF-1 have been implicated to be responsible for high all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.[16]
Associations of IGF-1 level within the normal range with disease are less clear. IGF-I has been suggested to promote atherosclerosis. Low-normal IGF-1 levels have been shown to be associated with development of heart disease and stroke [17-20] and higher circulating IGF-1 bioactivity is better associated with overall survival.[21] Men in the lowest IGF-1 bioactivity had an almost 2-fold increased mortality risk compared with men with the highest IGF-1 bioactivity.[21] In contrast, high-normal levels of IGF-1 have been reported to be associated with an increased risk of cancer.[22-27]
In humans, data on IGF-1 levels and longevity are conflicting.[28, 29] Decreased [30, 31] as well as increased [32] levels have been shown to be associated with reduced life expectancy in humans.

U-shaped relationship between IGF-I and mortality

If low IGF-1 levels are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and high IGF-1 levels are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer, there might be an optimal set point for the GH/IGF-1 axis associated with increased longevity. In line with this, several studies suggest an U-shaped relationship between IGF-I and mortality.[32, 33]

A notable study investigated the relationship between IGF-1 levels and all-cause/cause-specific mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer, in a national representative sample of community-dwelling older persons over 65 years of age.[34] After a follow-up of 11.6 years and after adjustments for confounders (age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol use, diabetes, physical activity, and albumin), the results demonstrated a 28%  increased risk of all-cause mortality with IGF-1 values in the lowest quintile (7.3 nmol/L) as compared to the middle quintile (13.5 nmol/L). The risk of all-cause mortality for persons with IGF-1 levels in the highest quintile (21.4 nmol/L) was increased by 17%. A more than 2-fold increased risk of cardiovascular mortality was found for both low-normal (239% increased risk) and high-normal (203 % increased risk) IGF-1 levels. This study found no significant associations were found between IGF-1 levels and nonfatal cardiovascular disease and fatal and nonfatal cancer.[34]

Summary

The decline of GH and IGF-1 levels with aging, aka somatopause, contributes to physical deterioration and increases mortality risk. It is interesting that having low-normal IGF-1 levels impose a greater risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality than having high-normal IGF-1 levels. However, too high levels have been associated with cancer risk, which is important to bear in mind when undergoing GH (or IGF-1) therapy.
Because there is a U-shaped relationship between IGF-I level and mortality, if you are eligible for and consider GH therapy, it is advisable to aim for IGF-1 levels in the mid-normal range.

References:

1.         Ohlsson, C., et al., The role of liver-derived insulin-like growth factor-I. Endocr Rev, 2009. 30(5): p. 494-535.
2.         Baumann, G.P., Growth hormone doping in sports: a critical review of use and detection strategies. Endocr Rev, 2012. 33(2): p. 155-86.
3.         Le Roith, D., et al., The somatomedin hypothesis: 2001. Endocr Rev, 2001. 22(1): p. 53-74.
4.         Kaplan, S.A. and P. Cohen, The somatomedin hypothesis 2007: 50 years later. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2007. 92(12): p. 4529-35.
5.         Martin, F.C., A.L. Yeo, and P.H. Sonksen, Growth hormone secretion in the elderly: ageing and the somatopause. Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1997. 11(2): p. 223-50.
6.         Lamberts, S.W., A.W. van den Beld, and A.J. van der Lely, The endocrinology of aging. Science, 1997. 278(5337): p. 419-24.
7.         Di Somma, C., et al., Somatopause: state of the art. Minerva Endocrinol, 2011. 36(3): p. 243-55.
8.         Maggio, M., et al., The hormonal pathway to cognitive impairment in older men. J Nutr Health Aging, 2012. 16(1): p. 40-54.
9.         Deijen, J.B., L.I. Arwert, and M.L. Drent, The GH/IGF-I Axis and Cognitive Changes across a 4-Year Period in Healthy Adults. ISRN Endocrinol, 2011. 2011: p. 249421.
10.       Angelini, A., et al., Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1): relation with cognitive functioning and neuroimaging marker of brain damage in a sample of hypertensive elderly subjects. Arch Gerontol Geriatr, 2009. 49 Suppl 1: p. 5-12.
11.       Perrini, S., et al., The GH/IGF1 axis and signaling pathways in the muscle and bone: mechanisms underlying age-related skeletal muscle wasting and osteoporosis. J Endocrinol, 2010. 205(3): p. 201-10.
12.       O’Connor, J.C., et al., Regulation of IGF-I function by proinflammatory cytokines: at the interface of immunology and endocrinology. Cell Immunol, 2008. 252(1-2): p. 91-110.
13.       Woodhouse, L.J., et al., The influence of growth hormone status on physical impairments, functional limitations, and health-related quality of life in adults. Endocr Rev, 2006. 27(3): p. 287-317.
14.       Thomas, J.D. and J.P. Monson, Adult GH deficiency throughout lifetime. Eur J Endocrinol, 2009. 161 Suppl 1: p. S97-S106.
15.       Scacchi, M. and F. Cavagnini, Acromegaly. Pituitary, 2006. 9(4): p. 297-303.
16.       Rosen, T. and B.A. Bengtsson, Premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease in hypopituitarism. Lancet, 1990. 336(8710): p. 285-8.
17.       Janssen, J.A., et al., Serum total IGF-I, free IGF-I, and IGFB-1 levels in an elderly population: relation to cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 1998. 18(2): p. 277-82.
18.       Johnsen, S.P., et al., Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I, -II, and IGF binding protein-3 and risk of ischemic stroke. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005. 90(11): p. 5937-41.
19.       Juul, A., et al., Low serum insulin-like growth factor I is associated with increased risk of ischemic heart disease: a population-based case-control study. Circulation, 2002. 106(8): p. 939-44.
20.       Dong, X., et al., The relationship between serum insulin-like growth factor I levels and ischemic stroke risk. PLoS One, 2014. 9(4): p. e94845.
21.       Brugts, M.P., et al., Low circulating insulin-like growth factor I bioactivity in elderly men is associated with increased mortality. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2008. 93(7): p. 2515-22.
22.       Renehan, A.G., et al., Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF binding protein-3, and cancer risk: systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Lancet, 2004. 363(9418): p. 1346-53.
23.       Novosyadlyy, R. and D. Leroith, Insulin-like growth factors and insulin: at the crossroad between tumor development and longevity. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2012. 67(6): p. 640-51.
24.       Samani, A.A., et al., The role of the IGF system in cancer growth and metastasis: overview and recent insights. Endocr Rev, 2007. 28(1): p. 20-47.
25.       Major, J.M., et al., Insulin-like growth factor-I and cancer mortality in older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2010. 95(3): p. 1054-9.
26.       Furstenberger, G. and H.J. Senn, Insulin-like growth factors and cancer. Lancet Oncol, 2002. 3(5): p. 298-302.
27.       Giovannucci, E., Insulin-like growth factor-I and binding protein-3 and risk of cancer. Horm Res, 1999. 51 Suppl 3: p. 34-41.
28.       van Heemst, D., Insulin, IGF-1 and longevity. Aging Dis, 2010. 1(2): p. 147-57.
29.       Sonntag, W.E., et al., Diverse roles of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in mammalian aging: progress and controversies. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2012. 67(6): p. 587-98.
30.       Friedrich, N., et al., Mortality and serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein 3 concentrations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2009. 94(5): p. 1732-9.
31.       Ruiz-Torres, A. and M. Soares de Melo Kirzner, Ageing and longevity are related to growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 secretion. Gerontology, 2002. 48(6): p. 401-7.
32.       Andreassen, M., et al., IGF1 as predictor of all cause mortality and cardiovascular disease in an elderly population. Eur J Endocrinol, 2009. 160(1): p. 25-31.
33.       Janssen, J.A. and S.W. Lamberts, Igf-I and longevity. Horm Res, 2004. 62 Suppl 3: p. 104-9.
34.       van Bunderen, C.C., et al., The association of serum insulin-like growth factor-I with mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cancer in the elderly: a population-based study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2010. 95(10): p. 4616-24.

Monica Mollica

Monica Mollica has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Stockholm, Sweden, and is an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer. She works a dietary consultant, health journalist and writer for

 

www.BrinkZone.com, and is also a web designer and videographer.

 

Monica has admired and been fascinated by muscular and sculptured strong athletic bodies since childhood, and discovered bodybuilding as an early teenager. Realizing the importance of nutrition for maximal results in the gym, she went for a major in Nutrition at the University.

During her years at the University she was a regular contributor to the Swedish bodybuilding magazine BODY, and she has published the book (in Swedish) “Functional Foods for Health and Energy Balance”, and authored several book chapters in Swedish publications.

 

It was her insatiable thirst for knowledge and scientific research in the area of bodybuilding and health that brought her to the US. She has completed one semester at the PhD-program “Exercise, Nutrition and Preventive Health” at Baylor University Texas, at the department of Health Human Performance and Recreation, and worked as an ISSA certified personal trainer. Today, Monica is sharing her solid experience by doing dietary consultations and writing about topics related to bodybuilding, fitness, health and anti-aging.

 

www.leanfitnesslife.com