COMPARISON OF THE METABOLIC EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN INSULIN-LIKEGROWTH-FACTOR-I AND INSULIN - DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS IN HEALTHY-YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS

The actions of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I ) and insulin were compared in 21 healthy young (24 +/- 1 yr) and 14 h ealthy middle-aged (48 +/- 2 yr) subjects during 3-h paired euglycemic clamp studies using one of three doses (rhIGF-I 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mu g/kg.min and insulin 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mU/kg.min, doses chosen to prod uce equivalent increases in glucose uptake). In younger subjects, rhIG F-I infusions suppressed insulin by 19-33%, C-peptide by 47-59% and gl ucagon by 33-47% (all, P < 0.02). The suppression of C-peptide was les s pronounced with insulin than with rhIGF-I (P < 0.007). The metabolic responses to rhIGF-I and insulin were remarkably similar: not only di d both hormones increase glucose uptake and oxidation in a nearly iden tical fashion, but they also produced similar suppression of glucose p roduction, free fatty acid levels, and fat oxidation rates. In contras t, rhIGF-I had a more pronounced amino acid-lowering effect than did i nsulin (P < 0.004). In middle-aged subjects, basal IGF-I levels were 4 4% lower (P < 0.0001) whereas basal insulin and C-peptide were 20-25% higher than in younger subjects. Age did not alter the response to rhI GF-I. However, insulin-induced stimulation of glucose uptake was blunt ed in older subjects (P = 0.05). Our data suggest that absolute IGF-I and relative insulin deficiency contribute to adverse metabolic change s seen in middle age.