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Association of Insulin‐Like Growth Factor‐I with Body Composition, Weight History, and Past Health Behaviors in the Very Old: The Framingham Heart Study
Author(s) -
Harris Tamara B.,
Kiel Douglas,
Roubenoff Ronenn,
Langlois Jean,
Hannan Marian,
Havlik Richard,
Wilson Peter
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1997.tb04497.x
Subject(s) - medicine , framingham heart study , association (psychology) , composition (language) , gerontology , risk factor , obesity , framingham risk score , demography , disease , sociology , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology
OBJECTIVES: We examined correlates of insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I), an indicator of growth hormone levels, to identify factors associated with higher levels of IGF‐I in old age. DESIGN: Nested study of cross‐sectional correlates and early‐life predictors of IGF‐I level. SETTING: A longitudinal cohort study, the Framingham Heart Study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 790 men and women (mean age 78.5, range 72–94), who had weight, waist and hip circumferences measured at the time of IGF‐I measurement. MEASUREMENTS: Association of IGF‐I with weight, fat distribution, functional status, nutritional indicators, and past health behaviors was assessed. We also examined IGF‐I in relation to body composition derived from dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: IGF‐I levels declined with age in both men and women. However, low IGF‐I did not show expected associations with low lean mass and increased body fat. Current functional status and grip strength were not associated with IGF‐I. Low IGF‐I was associated with weight loss in men; the strongest associations were with indicators of poorer nutritional status in both men and women. Levels of IGF‐I in old age did not vary by past health behaviors. CONCLUSION: Although IGF‐I declined with age, these data from the Framingham Heart Study did not show expected cross‐sectional associations of weight, body fat, and lean mass. The strongest associations were between IGF‐I and nutritional indicators. These results suggest caution may be warranted with regard to use of IGF‐I as an indicator of growth hormone.