Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes
Published on: March 7, 2025
Relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 and radiographic disease in patients with primary osteoarthritis: a
K M J A Claessen1, S R Ramautar, A M Pereira
1Department of Endocrinology & Metabolic Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. K.M.J.A.Claessen@lumc.nl
Objective:
To evaluate the association between radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) and either serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels or IGF-1 gene polymorphisms in patients with primary OA.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic review of reported associations between circulating IGF-1 and/or IGF-1 gene polymorphisms and radiographic OA. Studies were eligible when: (1) investigating serum IGF-1 and/or IGF-1 gene polymorphisms in relation to prevalent or incident radiographic OA; (2) written in English; (3) full-text article or abstract; (4) patients had primary OA in knee, hip, hand or spine; (5) longitudinal, case-control or cross-sectional design. Quality assessment was done using a standardized criteria set. Best-evidence synthesis was performed based on guidelines on systematic review from the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group, using five evidence levels: strong, moderate, limited, conflicting and no evidence.
Results:
We included 11 studies with more than 3000 primary OA cases. Data on the relationship between serum IGF-1 and radiographic OA were inconsistent. Adjustment for body mass index (BMI) was often omitted. Of four high-quality studies, three studies reported no association, one study found significantly higher IGF-1 levels in OA patients compared to controls. Patients with IGF-1 gene promoter polymorphisms and a genetic variation at the IGF-1R locus had an increased OA prevalence compared to controls.
Conclusions:
Observational data showed no association between serum IGF-1 and occurrence of radiographic OA (moderate level of evidence), and a positive relationship between IGF-1 gene polymorphisms and radiographic OA (moderate level of evidence); however the confounding effect of BMI was insufficiently addressed. Future well-designed prospective studies should further elaborate the role of the complex GH/IGF-1 system in primary OA.
