Research article

An IGF-I promoter polymorphism modifies the relationships between birth weight and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes at age 36

Saskia J te Velde^{* 1} , Elisabeth FC van Rossum^{* 2} , Paul G Voorhoeve^{* 3} , Jos WR Twisk^1,4 , Henriette A Delemarre van de Waal³ , Coen DA Stehouwer⁵ , Willem van Mechelen^1,6 , Steven WJ Lamberts² and Han CG Kemper¹

¹Institute for research in extramural medicine (EMGO), VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

²Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

³Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

⁴Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

⁵Institute for Cardiovascular Research and Department of Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, and Department of Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

⁶Department of Social Medicine and Body@Work research centre for physical activity, work and health TNO-VU, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Endocrine Disorders 2005, 5:5doi:10.1186/1472-6823-5-5

Published:	1 June 2005

Abstract

Objective

To investigate whether IGF-I promoter polymorphism was associated with birth weight and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and whether the birth weight – risk factor relationship was the same for each genotype.

Design and participants

264 subjects (mean age 36 years) had data available on birth weight, IGF-I promoter polymorphism genotype, CVD and T2DM risk factors. Student's t-test and regression analyses were applied to analyse differences in birth weight and differences in the birth weight – risk factors relationship between the genotypes.

Results

Male variant carriers (VCs) of the IGF-I promoter polymorphism had a 0.2 kg lower birth weight than men with the wild type allele (p = 0.009). Of the risk factors for CVD and T2DM, solely LDL concentration was associated with the genotype for the polymorphism. Most birth weight – risk factor relationships were stronger in the VC subjects; among others the birth weight – systolic blood pressure relationship: 1 kg lower birth weight was related to an 8.0 mmHg higher systolic blood pressure

Conclusion

The polymorphism in the promoter region of the IGF-I gene is related to birth weight in men only, and to LDL concentration only. Furthermore, the genotype for this polymorphism modified the relationships between birth weight and the risk factors, especially for systolic and diastolic blood pressure.