Low insulin-like growth factor 1 is associated with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and metabolic syndrome in Chinese nondiabetic obese children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundLow serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) levels have been proven to be positively associated with HDL-C, but few studies were based on the dataset of children or adolescents. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship among IGF-1, HDL-C and the metabolic syndrome in Chinese nondiabetic obese children and adolescents.MethodsAs a cross-sectional study, this study includes 120 obese Chinese children and adolescents and 120 healthy ones. The obese subjects were divided into two groups based on using 1.03 mmol/L as a threshold value for HDL-C. Clinical examination and laboratory examinations were assessed for all participants.ResultsObese subjects had significantly lower IGF-1SDS and higher Height SDS than those in the control group. Among 120 obese children and adolescents, 22 (18.3 %) subjects had an HDL-C level <1.03 mmol/L. IGF-1SDS was significantly lower (P = 0.001) in obese subjects with low HDL-C. According to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, IGF-1 SDS is significantly associated with low HDL-C(OR 0.518, 95 % CI 0.292–0.916; P = 0.024), after being adjusted for age, gender, pubertal status, BMI SDS, SBP, DBP, HOMR-IR, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT and uric acid. In addition, IGF-1 SDS is significantly correlated with the level of serum HDL-C in study population (r = 0.19, P = 0.003). Based on logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, gender and pubertal status, the increased IGF-1 SDS was associated with a decreased probability of metabolic syndrome (OR 0.555, 95 % CI 0.385–0.801; P = 0.002) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 0.582, 95 % CI 0.395–0.856; P = 0.006), but no significant correlation with hypertension.ConclusionObese children had lower IGF-1SDS and taller stature compared with the control group. Low levels of IGF-1 SDS were associated with low levels of HDL-C in chinese nondiabetic obese children and adolescents, independent of insulin resistance, as well as other traditional cardiovascular disease risk markers.

Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Children

“…This finding opposes a previous study in obese Chinese children, indicating an inverse association between IGF-I and HDL-c [10]. In our population, this relationship was present only in subjects younger than 10 years.…”

“…In childhood, IGF-I has been connected to cardiovascular risk markers in nondiabetic obese adolescents [9], and low IGF-I levels were found in obese Chinese children with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels [10]. …”

Unterschiedliche Wachstumsverläufe von Kindern mit Übergewicht im Vergleich zu normalgewichtigen Kindern

“…In der Literatur (2,15,18) gibt es eine große Diskussion, ob übergewichtige Kinder einen höheren, niedrigeren oder normal hohen IGF-1-SDS haben. Teilweise lassen sich die verschiedenen Ergebnisse der Studie durch unterschiedliche Adipositas-Definitionen sowie unterschiedliche Altersgruppen erklären.…”

“…Zudem gibt es zahlreiche Studien, die Unterschiede zwischen IGF-1-und GH-Spiegeln von schlanken und übergewichtigen Kindern zeigen (2)(3)(4). Es herrscht in der Literatur jedoch Uneinigkeit darüber, ob die IGF-1-Serumspiegel bei übergewichtigen Kindern erhöht, erniedrigt oder normal sind (2,15,18).…”

Hepatic JAK2 protects against atherosclerosis through circulating IGF-1

“…Furthermore, administration of IGF-1 by systemic infusions in ApoE-null mice at a pharmacological dose of 1.5 mg/kg/d showed a reduction in atherosclerotic plaque burden (55). Some possible mechanisms by which IGF-1 infusion reverses the accelerated atherosclerosis include its effect on cholesterol efflux, given a recent study linking IGF-1 and HDL cholesterol (56).…”