Effects of ACE-inhibition on IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations in older adults with high cardiovascular risk profile

OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluates the effects of a 6-month treatment with an ACE-inhibitor (ie, fosinopril) on serum concentrations of total IGF-1 and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 in older adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: Data are from the Trial of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibition and Novel Cardiovascular Risk Factors (TRAIN) study, a double-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Participants were recruited from the communities of Winston Salem, NC, and Greensboro, NC. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects > or = 55 years old with high cardiovascular disease risk profile. INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of 6-month administration of fosinopril vs. placebo. MEASUREMENTS: Serum concentrations of total IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were measured in 100 participants of the TRAIN study at baseline, 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits. Differences in total IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations were assessed using two-sided paired ttests. RESULTS: The mean age of participants (47% women) was 66.5 (standard deviation 7.2) years. Serum concentrations of total IGF-1 were significantly higher after 6-month treatment with fosinopril compared to placebo (203.73 ng/mL vs 194.24 ng/mL; p=0.02): After ACE-inhibitor intervention, significantly higher serum IGFBP-3 concentrations compared to controls (4308.81 ng/mL vs 4086.93 ng/mL; p=0.03) were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: A six-month treatment with fosinopril increases systemic levels of total IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in older adults with high cardiovascular risk profile. This may represent a potential biological explanation to the beneficial effects of ACE-inhibition on stroke, ischemic heart disease and insulin resistance.