Role of insulin-like growth factor-I in primary osteoporosis: A correlative study

Osteoporosis is characterized by impairment of bone mass and deterioration of bone microscopic structure, resulting in increased bone fragility and su sceptibility to fracture. Recent reports have indicated that reduced plasma levels of IGF-1 are associated with osteoporosis in both males and females . Moreover, there is accumulating clinical evidence that treatment with GH or IGF-1 has beneficial effects on bone mass and bone remodeling in men wit h idiopathic osteoporosis, in the elderly and in hypopituitary patients. As correlative studies on IGF-1, IGF-BP3 and bone mass in the elderly are lac king, we studied the relationships between serum IGF-1, IGF-BP3, bone miner al density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), calciotropic hormones and age in 1 02 premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Our study indicates that the red uction of the anabolic processes mediated by IGF-1 may account for the slow and progressive loss of bone mass that take place after the age of 40-50 y ears. In addition, nutritional caloric or proteic deficit may add to the ef fects of GH, age and other factors in decreasing IGF-1 synthesis and theref ore further contribute to the development of primary osteoporosis. (C) 2000 , Editrice Kurtis.