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Insulin growth factor-1 correlates with higher bone mineral density and lower inflammation status in obese adult subjects

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Obesity is a severe public health problem worldwide, leading to an insulin-resistant state in liver, adipose, and muscle tissue, representing a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. We have shown that abdominal obesity is associated with homeostasis derangement, linked to several hormonal and paracrine factors. Data regarding potential link between GH/IGF1 axis, bone mineral density, and inflammation in obesity are lacking. Thus, aim of this study was to evaluate correlation among IGF-1, BMD, and inflammation in obese individuals.

Methods

The study included 426 obese subjects, mean age 44.8 ± 14 years; BMI 34.9 ± 6.1. Exclusion criteria were chronic medical conditions, use of medications affecting bone metabolism, hormonal and nutritional status, recent weight loss, and prior bariatric surgery. Patients underwent measurements of BMD and body composition by DEXA and were evaluated for hormonal, metabolic profile, and inflammatory markers.

Results

In this population, IGF-1 was inversely correlated with abdominal FM% (p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.12) and directly correlated with osteocalcin (OSCA) (p < 0.002, r 2 = 0.14). A negative correlation was demonstrated between IGF-1 levels and nonspecific inflammatory index, such as fibrinogen (p < 0.01, r 2 = 0.04) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.0001, r 2 = 0.03). IGF-1 was directly correlated with higher BMD, at both lumbar (p < 0.02, r 2 = 0.03) and femoral site (p < 0.04, r 2 = 0.03).

Conclusions

In conclusion, our results show that higher levels of serum IGF-1 in obese patients correlate with lower inflammatory pattern and better skeletal health, as demonstrated by higher BMD and osteocalcin levels. These results lead to speculate the existence of a bone-adipose-muscle interplay modulating energy homeostasis, glucose, bone metabolism, and chronic inflammation in individuals affected by abdominal obesity.

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Acknowledgements

Research was funded by PRIN 2009 2009KENS9K_004 to LMD, PRIN 2011 052013 to SM, PON 01_00829 to AL, and PRIN 072013. All authors have contributed significantly to the study and are in agreement with the content of the manuscript. All authors: concept/design, collection, and/or assembly of data. FD: data analysis. All authors: interpretation and critical revision of manuscript. All authors: final approval of manuscript.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Medical Pathophysiology, Endocrinology and Nutrition, University “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

      Rachele Fornari, Chiara Marocco, Davide Francomano, Carla Lubrano, Lorenzo M. Donini, Andrea Lenzi & Emanuela A. Greco

    2. IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy

      Simona Fittipaldi & Emanuele Nicolai

    3. Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Section of Health Sciences, University “Foro Italico”, Largo Lauro De Bosis 6, 00135, Rome, Italy

      Viviana M. Bimonte & Silvia Migliaccio

    4. Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy

      Antonio Aversa

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    1. Rachele Fornari
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    Correspondence to Silvia Migliaccio.

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    Conflict of interest

    SM received speaker’s honorarium from Lilly, Bayer, Italfarmaco, MSD; AA received speaker’s honorarium from Lilly, Bayer. On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

    Ethical approval

    All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

    Informed consent

    All subjects provided informed consent before taking part in the study, and the local ethical committee approved the research protocol.

    Additional information

    Rachele Fornari, Chiara Marocco and Davide Francomano are equally contributed to this work; Emanuela A. Greco and Silvia Migliaccio are equally contributed to this work.

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    Fornari, R., Marocco, C., Francomano, D. et al. Insulin growth factor-1 correlates with higher bone mineral density and lower inflammation status in obese adult subjects. Eat Weight Disord 23, 375–381 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-017-0362-4

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-017-0362-4

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