Objective
Several studies in vitro or in rodent models have suggested a potential relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition and the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis. However, this relationship has only rarely been investigated in humans. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to assess the association of ACE inhibitors with free IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in the blood of older hypertensive adults.
Methods
Data are from the baseline evaluation of the ilSIRENTE study, which enrolled 364 subjects aged 80 or older. For the present study we selected a subpopulation of 264 hypertensive participants without congestive heart failure. Free IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in the blood were measured by a radioimmunoassay method. Analyses of covariance were performed to evaluate the differences in free IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels according to the use of ACE inhibitors.
Results
The mean age of participants was 85.7 years (SD: 4.9), 170 (64%) were women and 123 (47%) were using an ACE inhibitor. Following adjustment for potential confounders, the concentration of free IGF-1 was slightly, but not significantly higher among ACE inhibitor users than among non-users (0.74 vs. 0.65 ng/mL; p = 0.20). In contrast, ACE inhibitor users had a significantly higher IGFBP-3 serum levels than non-users (4821 vs. 4330 ng/mL; p = 0.005). In addition, the concentration of IGFBP-3 was significantly higher among ACE inhibitors users than among non-users of antihypertensive drugs (p = 0.02) and users of other antihypertensive drugs (p = 0.01).
Conclusion
Among hypertensive older adults, ACE inhibitors use is associated with higher IGFBP-3 levels.