to investigate the effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on the insulin-like-growth factor 1(IGF-1) system in the elderly. cross-sectional. InCHIANTI study. 938 older subjects (536 women, 402 men, mean age 75.7 +/- 7.4 years). complete data on age, sex, BMI, liver function, medications, dietary intake, IGF-1, IGF-binding protein-1 and -3 (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3). Participants were categorized by PPI use, identifying 903 PPI non users and 35 users. After adjusting for age, male PPI users (107.0 +/- 69.6 vs 127.1 +/- 55.8, p < 0.001) and female PPI users (87.6 +/- 29.1 vs 107.6 +/- 52.3, p=0.03) had lower IGF-1 levels than non-users. IGFBP-1 levels were similar in the two groups in both sexes. In whole population, after adjustment for age and sex, PPI users had lower IGF-1 levels 81.9 [61.1-113.8] than nonusers 110 [77.8-148.6], p=0.02. After further adjustment for BMI, albumin, liver function, C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6, number of medications, ACE-inhibitors use, caloric intake, protein intake, physical activity, glycemia, and IGFBP-1, the use of PPIs remained significantly and negatively associated with IGF-1 levels (beta +/- SE=-19.60 +/- 9.83, p=0.045). Use of PPIs was independently and negatively associated with IGF-1 levels.