title: Serum insulin-like growth factor I and its binding protein 3 in their relation to intima-media thickness: results of the study of health in Pomerania (SHIP).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies detected associations between lower insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels and increased risk of congestive heart failure or ischaemic heart disease. The aim of the present study was to assess the association of IGF-I and its binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) with the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as marker of asymptomatic cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), a total of 2286 participants aged 45 years or older with readable ultrasound of the carotid arteries were available for the present analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were categorized into three groups (low, moderate, high) according to the sex-specific 10th and 90th percentile. Analyses of variance (anova) and logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, waist circumference, diabetes, hypertension and creatinine clearance were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for confounding factors, IGF-I and the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio were positively related to IMT in anova. Logistic regression analyses confirmed these findings and showed that high IGF-I levels, a high IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio and low IGFBP-3 levels were associated to higher odds of increased IMT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, high IGF-I or high IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio values and low IGFBP-3 levels are associated with increased IMT. Therefore, systemic levels of the IGF axis or alterations in the balance of its components are associated with subclinical atherosclerotic disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory MedicineDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of NeurologyInstitute for Community Medicine University of Greifswald, GermanyDepartment of Endocrinology, Christie Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spilcke-Liss
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dörr
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schminke
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Völzke
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brabant
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nauck
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wallaschofski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / Q000097:blood*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018972:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I