Gender differences in the relation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 to cardiovascular risk factors: a population-based study

• Published in: Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 2005-07, Vol.63 (1), p.94-102
• Main Authors: Undén, Anna-Lena, Elofsson, Stig, Brismar, Kerstin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cholesterol - blood; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endocrinopathies; Estradiol - blood; Fasting - blood; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Insulin - blood; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 - blood; Life Style; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Testosterone - blood; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Waist-Hip Ratio
• ISSN: 0300-0664; 1365-2265
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2005.02306.x

Summary Objective  A possible involvement of insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) and its binding protein IGFBP‐1 in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorder has been suggested. However, few publications have addressed the gender differences in cardiovascular risk factors in relation to the IGF/IGFBP system. The aim of the present study was to study gender differences in the relationship between fasting serum levels of IGFBP‐1 and cardiovascular risk factors in a normal population of men and women. Design  Cross‐sectional study. Patients  A normal population of 273 men and women aged 20–74 years. Measurements  A medical examination was performed and blood drawn in the morning after subjects had been fasting overnight. Before the examination, they were asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning lifestyle and psychosocial factors. Results  Fasting IGFBP‐1 was lower in men than in women and was positively correlated to age in men but not in women. The men had in general a more disadvantageous cardiovascular risk profile than women, with several indicators of the metabolic syndrome: higher blood pressure and higher serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), plasma‐glucose and insulin, as well as lower IGFBP‐1. Women had lower physical activity, lower consumption of alcohol, and lower values on indicators of psychosocial and mental health but had a healthier diet. Our findings indicate that low circulating levels of IGFBP‐1 are associated with the well‐known risk factors of cardiovascular disease; however, the association showed a different pattern for men and women. In men we found a negative association with body mass index (BMI), insulin resistance and diastolic blood pressure, and a positive association with SHBG, cortisol and testosterone. For women low IGFBP‐1 appears in negative associations with BMI, waist–hip ratio (WHR), insulin resistance and testosterone, and in positive associations with SHBG and cortisol. Significant gender differences in the correlation with IGFBP‐1 are seen for testosterone, cortisol, SHBG, WHR and oestradiol. For HDL‐C and diastolic blood pressure the gender difference in correlation was at the limit of significance (P