Evaluation of Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Among Controlled and Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Geriatric Population From North India.

INTRODUCTION

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism, yet its relationship with glycemic status in elderly type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains incompletely defined. This study aimed to assess serum IGF-1 concentrations in geriatric patients from North India with controlled and uncontrolled T2DM.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An age- and sex-matched case-control design was used, enrolling 100 participants: 50 with controlled T2DM (HbA1c <7%) and 50 with uncontrolled T2DM (HbA1c >7%). Clinical and biochemical assessments included fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, fasting insulin, insulin resistance indices (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-B), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and serum IGF-1 concentrations.

RESULTS

Serum IGF-1 was significantly reduced in uncontrolled T2DM compared with controlled patients (4.16 vs. 7.70 ng/mL, p <0.001). IGF-1 demonstrated negative correlations with age, duration of diabetes, fasting glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and TNF-α. On multivariate regression, advancing age and HbA1c independently predicted IGF-1 levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified a cut-off of 7.32 ng/mL for IGF-1, yielding 92% sensitivity and 60% specificity in predicting uncontrolled diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Serum IGF-1 is significantly lower in uncontrolled geriatric T2DM and correlates with markers of glycemic control, insulin resistance, and inflammation. It may represent a promising biomarker for monitoring glycemic status in older adults with T2DM.