Low circulating levels of IGF-1 in healthy adults are associated with reduced β-cell function, increased intramyocellular lipid, and enhanced fat utilization during fasting

Ajay Thankamony, Donatella Capalbo, M Loredana Marcovecchio, Alison Sleigh, Sine Wanda Jørgensen, Nathan R Hill, Katrin Mooslehner, Giles S H Yeo, Les Bluck, Anders Juul, Allan Vaag, David B Dunger

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Context: Low serum IGF-1 levels have been linked to increased risk for development of type 2 diabetes. However, the physiological role of IGF-1 in glucose metabolism is not well characterized. Objective: Our objective was to explore glucose and lipid metabolism associated with variations in serum IGF-1 levels. Design, Setting and Participants: IGF-1 levels were measured in healthy, nonobese male volunteers aged 18 to 50 years from a biobank (n = 275) to select 24 subjects (age 34.8 ± 8.9 years), 12 each in the lowest (low-IGF) and highest (high-IGF) quartiles of age-specific IGF-1 SD scores. Evaluations were undertaken after a 24-hour fast and included glucose and glycerol turnover rates using tracers, iv glucose tolerance test to estimate peripheral insulin sensitivity (IS) and acute insulin and C-peptide responses (indices of insulin secretion), magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure intramyocellular lipids (IMCLs), calorimetry, and gene expression studies in a muscle biopsy. Main Outcome Measures: Acute insulin and C-peptide responses, IS, and glucose and glycerol rate of appearance (Ra) were evaluated. Results: Fasting insulin and C-peptide levels and glucose Ra were reduced (all P.05) in low-IGF comparedwithhigh-IGFsubjects, indicatingincreasedhepaticIS.AcuteinsulinandC- peptideresponses were lower (both P.05), but similar peripheral IS resulted in reduced insulin secretion adjusted for IS in low-IGF subjects (P = 0.044). Low-IGF subjects had higher overnight levels of free fatty acids (P = .028)and=-hydroxybutyrate (P=.014), increased accumulation of IMCLs in tibialis anterior muscle (P=.008), and a tendency for elevated fat oxidation rates (P=.058); however, glycerol Ra values were similar. Gene expression of the fatty acid metabolism pathway (P=.0014) was upregulated, whereas the GLUT1 gene was downregulated (P = .005) in the skeletal muscle in low-IGF subjects. Conclusions: These data suggest that serum IGF-1 levels could be an important marker of =-cell function and glucose as well as lipid metabolic responses during fasting.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEndocrinology
Volume99
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)2198-2207
Number of pages10
ISSN0013-7227
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2014

Keywords

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Fasting
  • Glucose
  • Health
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Lipids
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
  • Young Adult

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