The role of IGF-1 in obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer

Insulin-like growth factor1 (IGF1) is a polypeptide that structurally is similar to human pro-insulin, one of the factors that is altered in obesity and many related diseases, hence a large body of research devoted to evaluate it. 

In this mini-review, we briefly explain the role of IGF1 in different conditions, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer through the results of review and original articles in both animal and human studies.

The short-term metabolic effect of IGF-1 is insulin-like, and its long-term effect is growth factor-like. IGF1 has different roles in the initiation and progression of different diseases, because in some cases, the anti-apoptotic effect, can help cell survival while in others, it may lead to cancer or increment of adipocytes.

It is highly recommended to consider the different impacts of IGF1 in health and diseases prevention in future studies and interventions.