Perturbed insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein-3 are not associated with chronic widespread pain in men: results from the European Male Ageing Study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether perturbations of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were associated with the presence of chronic widespread pain (CWP) in men.

METHODS:

The European Male Ageing Study (EMAS) is an 8-center population-based study of men aged 40-79 years recruited from population registers. A questionnaire asked about the presence and duration of musculoskeletal pain, from which subjects reporting CWP were identified. Subjects also had an interviewer-assisted questionnaire: levels of physical activity and mood were assessed, and height and weight were measured. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were assayed from a fasting blood sample. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between IGF measures and CWP. Results were expressed as odds ratios or relative risk ratios.

RESULTS:

A total of 3206 subjects provided full data. Of those, 1314 (39.0%) reported no pain in the past month and 278 (8.3%) reported pain that satisfied criteria for CWP. IGF-1 concentrations were similar among subjects who reported no pain and those with CWP: 131.5 mg/l and 128.4 mg/l, respectively. This was true also for IGFBP-3 (4.3 and 4.3 mg/l). Obesity was associated with low IGF-1 and a high IGFBP-3/IGF-1 ratio, indicating less bioavailable IGF-1, irrespective of pain status. This relationship persisted after adjustment for comorbidities, depression, smoking, alcohol consumption, and quality of life.

CONCLUSION:

Overall CWP was not associated with perturbations in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations. Hypofunctioning of the axis was noted among subjects who were obese and this was not specific to CWP. These data suggest that IGF-1 is unlikely to be etiologically important in relation to CWP, although the relationship with growth hormone remains to be elucidated.

• Authors: John McBeth, Abdelouahid Tajar, Terence W O'Neill, Gary J Macfarlane, Stephen R Pye, Gyorgy Bartfai, Steven Boonen, Roger Bouillon, Felipe Casanueva, Joseph D Finn, Gianni Forti, Aleksander Giwercman, Thang S Han, Ilpo T Huhtaniemi, Krzysztof Kula, Michael E J Lean, Neil Pendleton, Margus Punab, Alan J Silman, Dirk Vanderschueren, Frederick C W Wu, EMAS Group
• Journal: The Journal of rheumatology (J Rheumatol) Vol. 36 Issue 11 Pg. 2523-30 (Nov 2009) ISSN: 0315-162X [Print] Canada
• PMID: 19833751 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aging (blood, physiology)
• Body Mass Index
• Chronic Disease
• Depression (etiology)
• Europe
• Humans
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (blood)
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (metabolism)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain (blood, complications, physiopathology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires