A multi-cohort study of polymorphisms in the GH/IGF axis and physical capability: the HALCyon programme

PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e29883. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029883. Epub 2012 Jan 10.

Abstract

Background: Low muscle mass and function have been associated with poorer indicators of physical capability in older people, which are in-turn associated with increased mortality rates. The growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis is involved in muscle function and genetic variants in genes in the axis may influence measures of physical capability.

Methods: As part of the Healthy Ageing across the Life Course (HALCyon) programme, men and women from seven UK cohorts aged between 52 and 90 years old were genotyped for six polymorphisms: rs35767 (IGF1), rs7127900 (IGF2), rs2854744 (IGFBP3), rs2943641 (IRS1), rs2665802 (GH1) and the exon-3 deletion of GHR. The polymorphisms have previously been robustly associated with age-related traits or are potentially functional. Meta-analysis was used to pool within-study genotypic effects of the associations between the polymorphisms and four measures of physical capability: grip strength, timed walk or get up and go, chair rises and standing balance.

Results: Few important associations were observed among the several tests. We found evidence that rs2665802 in GH1 was associated with inability to balance for 5 s (pooled odds ratio per minor allele = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.98, p-value = 0.01, n = 10,748), after adjusting for age and sex. We found no evidence for other associations between the polymorphisms and physical capability traits.

Conclusion: Our findings do not provide evidence for a substantial influence of these common polymorphisms in the GH/IGF axis on objectively measured physical capability levels in older adults.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / genetics*
  • Anthropometry
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genotyping Techniques
  • Hand Strength / physiology
  • Health
  • Human Growth Hormone / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / genetics*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • United Kingdom

Substances

  • IGF2 protein, human
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II