Forschungsinformationssystem Universität Greifswald

Hannemann A*, Wallaschofski H, Rettig R, Völzke H, Samietz S, Nauck M, Bidlingmaier M, Friedrich N

Zentrum für Zahn-, Mund- und Kieferheilkunde / Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Prothetik, Alterszahnheilkunde und Medizinische Werkstoffkunde

Institut für Physiologie

Institut für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin

Institut für Community Medicine / Abt. SHIP KEF

Several studies in patients with acromegaly or growth hormone (GH) deficiency suggest a stimulatory effect of the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). We analyzed the association of serum IGF-I with plasma aldosterone and the aldosterone-to-renin ratio in a large sample from the general population. In addition to serum IGF-I levels, we also considered the IGF-I-to-IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 ratio. A total of 1?504 men and 1?566 women aged 25-88 were selected from the first follow-up of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. Plasma aldosterone and renin concentrations, as well as serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were determined with immunoassays. Analyses of variance and linear regression analyses were performed. We found positive associations between serum IGF-I or the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio with plasma aldosterone in women but not in men. Plasma aldosterone levels increased by 2.91?ng/l per IGF-I standard deviation (SD) and by 2.17?ng/l per IGF-I/IGFBP-3?SD. The associations remained significant after exclusion of subjects taking RAAS-altering medication and of subjects with serum IGF-I levels and aldosterone-to-renin ratios outside the reference range. We conclude that, serum IGF-I and the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio are associated with plasma aldosterone levels in women but not in men from the general population.