Serum free IGF-I, total IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in an elderly population: relation to age and sex steroid levels.
BACKGROUND
Most previous studies concerning the relationship between IGF-I and age used assays measuring total IGF-I. Although free IGF-I is considered of greater biological relevance, little is known about its relationship with sex steroids levels in elderly healthy subjects.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study of 218 healthy people (103 men, 115 women) aged 55-80 years we measured serum total and free IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP3 levels and sex steroids. Free androgen index and free oestradiol index were used as an indicator for free oestradiol and free testosterone levels, respectively.


RESULTS
Free IGF-I levels did not decline with age in the whole study population. Free IGF-I levels even increased in individuals above 70 years of age in comparison to those aged between 55 and 70 years (mean +/- SE 0.106 +/- 0.007 nmol/l vs. 0.086 +/- 0.004 nmol/l, P = 0.009). Total IGF-I and IGFBP-3 decreased with age (r = -0.20, P = 0.005 and r = -0.24, P = 0.001, respectively). Total IGF-I levels were positively related with free oestrogen index in both sexes. Free IGF-I did not relate to free oestrogen or androgen index. In women only, free IGF-I was related positively with DHEAS while IGFBP-1 was inversely correlated with DHEAS.


CONCLUSIONS
Free IGF-I levels do not decrease with age and are even higher in individuals above 70 years. There was no relationship between free IGF-I and free androgen or oestrogen index in either gender. We hypothesize that higher free IGF-I levels in older persons may be the consequence of selective survival in the cohort: subjects with high free IGF-I levels may live longer. The absence of a relationship between free IGF-I levels and free androgen and oestrogen indices suggests that there is no direct interaction between the biological activity of circulating IGF-I levels and sex hormone production in a healthy ageing population.
Janssen
J A
JA
Department of Internal Medicine III, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Stolk
R P
RP
Pols
H A
HA
Grobbee
D E
DE
de Jong
F H
FH
Lamberts
S W
SW
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I