Written by Joyce Smith, BS. A four-year supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 significantly increased IGF-1 levels and sustained improved cardiovascular function and mortality for 10 years.

Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is an important growth hormone with both anabolic and pleiotopic effects on cell growth and metabolism. It has been shown to diminish with age and is also diminished in advanced cardiovascular disease. These facts, along with its proven anti-inflammatory effect and the implications for cardiovascular health in aging populations 1,2 has made it a target for research. The discovery that low levels of IGF-1 increases the risk of heart disease 3 while high levels of IGF-1 impart a protective function 4 by decreasing oxidative stress 5 and inflammation 5 prompted researchers to test the hypothesis that supplementation with Coenzyme Q10 might positively influence IGF-1 concentrations and improve heart health in our elderly populations.

Previous studies by Alehagen et al 4-7, have demonstrated that selenium and CoQ10 supplementation improved cardiovascular mortality by reducing cardiac biomarker N terminal proBNP4 and inflammatory markers hsCPR and sP-selectin 5, and by increasing dietary selenium levels in a subgroup of elderly Swedish participants who were selenium-deficient 7.

This 2017 study by the same authors 8 was an additional analyses designed to investigate how the same four -year supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 might influence IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 in the healthy Swedish population of elderly citizens used in previous studies 5-7. The 215 participating citizens were randomized into two groups to receive a 4-year supplementation with either a combination of 200 mg per day of Coenzyme Q10 and 200 ug per day of organic selenium or a placebo, which were to be taken in addition to their regular medication.

All subjects underwent a clinical examination (including blood work) before and 48 months after treatment intervention. Heart function was assessed according to ejection chamber (EF) readings and evaluations of IGF-1, the age adjusted IGF-1 SD score and IGFBP-1 were performed using group mean values and repeated measures of variance.

Researchers found baseline values of IGF-1 in the selenium and coenzyme Q10 intervention group to be very similar to those of placebo (P=0.06); however, after 4 years of supplementation, IGF-1 levels were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to placebo. (P<0.0001). In fact, IGF-1 significantly increased from 154 – 183 ug/L in the treatment group (P<0.0001) while a significant decrease was seen in the placebo group (166-144 ug/L, (P=0.0007). Repeated analyses with an age-corrected dataset further validated that concentrations of IFG-1 and IGF-binding protein-1 were higher in the treatment group compared to placebo (P<0.0001). Also, the response to selenium supplementation on IGF-1 levels was significantly higher in those participants who had a selenium deficiency compared to those who had no or very little deficiency 7.

The authors noted that the raised IGF-1 levels present in the intervention group might decrease inflammation and oxidative stress, and promote nitric oxide formation, and thus relax arterial smooth muscle cells, reduce platelet adhesion and decrease oxidized LDL cholesterol levels. 9,10 (Research by Lohr et al showed an inverse relationship between IGF-1 and the inflammation biomarker hsCPR 11.) The higher IGFBP-1 levels seen in the intervention group improved insulin sensitivity, which was also in alignment with previous studies showing that antioxidants can improve insulin sensitivity 12. Of particular interest is the fact that selenium and CoQ10 supplementation resulted in reduced cardiovascular mortality 10 years later in spite of a short period of only four years6. These long term effects following selenium and CoQ10 intervention also included less inflammatory activity as evidenced by an improvement in the biomarkers sP-selectin and hs-CRP and less oxidative stress as evidenced in improved levels of the biomarkers copeptin, and MR-proADM, 5. Lastly, selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplementation might provide health benefits, including elevated IGF-1 levels, to our elderly populations who live in areas with low selenium soil levels.7

This study is a small post hoc study of elderly Swedish participants who were ethnically homogenous; therefore, results cannot be extrapolated into other age groups. However, researchers believe that the study population was extensively evaluated and that the positive results regarding IGF-1 align very well with the positive clinical and laboratory results found in earlier studies.

Source: Alehagen U, Johansson P, Aaseth J, Alexander J, Brismar K (2017) Increase in insulin- like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 after supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10. A prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial among elderly Swedish citizens. PLoS ONE 12(6): e0178614. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted August 3, 2017.

References:

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  2. Succurro E, Andreozzi F, Sciaqua A, Hribal ML, Perticone F, Sesti G. Reciprocal association of plasma IGF-1 and interleukin-6 levels with cardiometabolic risk factors in nondiabetic subjects. Diabetes care. 2008;31(9):1886-1888.
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