Abstract
Physical activity (PA) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) have beneficial effects for patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke (stroke). However, the relationship between the levels of PA and IGF-I after stroke has not been explored in detail. We investigated the pre-stroke PA level in relation to the post-stroke serum IGF-I (s-IGF-I) level, at baseline and at 3 months after the index stroke, and calculated the change that occurred between these two time-points (ΔIGF-I). Patients (N = 380; 63.4% males; mean age, 54.7 years) with data on 1-year leisure-time pre-stroke PA and post-stroke s-IGF-I levels were included from the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS). Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Pre-stroke, leisure-time PA was self-reported as PA1–4, with PA1 representing sedentary and PA2–4 indicating progressively higher PA levels. Associations between s-IGF-I and PA were evaluated by multiple linear regressions with PA1 as the reference and adjustments being made for sex, age, history of previous stroke or myocardial infarctions, cardiovascular risk factors, and stroke severity. PA correlated with baseline s-IGF-I and ΔIGF-I, but not with the 3-month s-IGF-I. In the linear regressions, there were corresponding associations that remained as a tendency (baseline s-IGF-I, p = 0.06) or as a significant effect (ΔIGF-I, p = 0.03) after all the adjustments. Specifically, for each unit of PA, ΔIGF-I increased by 9.7 (95% CI 1,1−18.4) ng/mL after full adjustment. This supports the notion that pre-stroke PA is independently related to ΔIGF-I.
Highlights
Stroke is a condition that is associated with high costs for the healthcare system, with the financial burden and suffering being significantly higher in cases of moderate and severe stroke than in mild cases [1]
We investigated the potential associations between pre-stroke physical activity (PA) and post-stroke s-insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), at baseline and at 3 months post-stroke (3-month serum IGF-I (s-IGF-I)), and including the change in s-IGF-I calculated between these two time-points (∆IGF-I), and we examined whether these associations were retained in different multiple linear regression models
There was a significant relation between s-IGF-I and PA (Figure 1), none of the IGF-I variables correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = −0.034, p = 0.52; r = 0.016, p = 0.77; r = −0.029, p = 0.59, respectively)
Summary
Stroke is a condition that is associated with high costs for the healthcare system, with the financial burden and suffering being significantly higher in cases of moderate and severe stroke than in mild cases [1]. Knowledge of key risk factors, especially those that are modifiable, such as physical activity (PA), is essential. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has neuroprotective effects and promotes brain plasticity in a positive fashion after brain injuries [2]. Higher serum insulin-like growth factor I (s-IGF-I) levels are associated with improved recovery after ischemic stroke, hereinafter referred to as stroke [3,4,5,6,7]. A low level of s-IGF-I is a risk factor for the occurrence of stroke [8]. The expression of s-IGF-I is upregulated by growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary, IGF-I is related to other factors, showing a negative relationship with age and insulin resistance and a positive relationship with PA [9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
