Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2012; 120(03): 171-174
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1301289
Short Communication
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Insulin-like Growth Factor I and Anthropometric Parameters in a Danish Population

N. Friedrich
1   Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
,
T. Jørgensen
2   Research Centre for Prevention and Health, The Capital Region of Denmark
3   Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
,
A. Juul
4   University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
C. Spielhagen
1   Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
,
M. Nauck
1   Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
,
H. Wallaschofski
1   Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
,
A. Linneberg
2   Research Centre for Prevention and Health, The Capital Region of Denmark
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 11 July 2011
first decision 02 December 2011

accepted 04 January 2012

Publication Date:
08 March 2012 (online)

Preview

Abstract

During the last decade several studies indicated that low insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I levels are related to higher risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Obesity represents one further main cardiovascular risk factor which might also be related to IGF-I. The objective of the present study was to analyse the associations between anthropometric measures and IGF-I levels in a population-based sample.

From the Danish cross-sectional Health2006 study 3 328 subjects (1 835 women; 1 493 men) aged 19–72 years were included in the analyses. Serum IGF-I levels were determined by an immunoassay. Body height, weight as well as waist and hip circumferences were measured. Body-mass-index, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were calculated.

Circulating IGF-I levels were inversely associated with all anthropometric markers as evaluated by linear regression adjusting for age, alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity. Our large cross-sectional study suggests that IGF-I may serve as the link between obesity and mortality although any causal relation cannot be inferred and longitudinal analyses are needed to clarify the causal relation.