Context: Circulating IGF-I is inversely associated with ischemic heart disease incidence. Whether this association relates to alterations in plaque growth or stability, and the role of IGF-II and the major binding proteins [IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-2 and -3], is unclear.
Objective: Our objective was to test the hypothesis that circulating IGF-I is inversely, and IGF-II is positively, associated with subclinical atherosclerosis and plaque stability.
Design, setting, and participants: This was a cross-sectional analysis based on 310 participants in the United Kingdom-based Boyd Orr cohort who were aged 63-82 yr. Cohort members from Aberdeen, Bristol, Dundee, Wisbech, and London were invited to clinics for fasted venepuncture and arterial ultrasound examination.
Main outcomes: Arterial intima-media thickness, arterial plaque prevalence, and computerized assessment of plaque echogenicity (a measure of stability), undertaken using the gray scale median, were calculated.
Results: In total, 269 of 310 (86.8%) participants had at least one carotid or femoral plaque. In models controlling for IGFBP-3, there was a 44% (95% confidence interval 12-64%) reduction in the odds of any plaque and a 28% lower (0-48%) odds of echolucent (unstable) plaques per sd increase in IGF-I. IGFBP-3 was positively associated with plaque instability (odds ratio: 1.38; 0.99-1.93). IGF-II was positively associated (0.05-mm increase per sd; 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.09), and IGFBP-2 was inversely associated, with carotid bifurcation intima-media thickness. Neither IGF-II nor IGFBP-2 was associated with plaque prevalence or echogenicity.
Conclusion: High-circulating IGF-I levels may promote arterial plaque stability. IGF-II and IGFBP-2 do not appear to play a role in plaque development or stability.