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Diet, serum insulin-like growth factor-I and IGF-binding protein-3 in European women

Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of diet with serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 in women.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting and subjects:

The population are 2109 women who were control subjects in a case–control study of breast cancer nested in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Control subjects were randomly chosen among risk sets consisting of female cohort members alive and free of cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) at the time of diagnosis of the index case. Matching criteria were age at enrolment, follow-up time, time of the day of blood collection and study centre. Diet was measured through validated questionnaires. Serum hormone concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The relationship between serum IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and intake of nutrients and foods was explored by linear regression in models adjusted for energy intake, age, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, centre and laboratory batch.

Results:

Serum IGF-I levels were positively related to protein intake (Ptrend<0.001), but not related to energy, fat or carbohydrate intake. Positive relationships were observed with the intake of milk (Ptrend=0.007), calcium (Ptrend<0.001), magnesium (Ptrend=0.003), phosphorus (Ptrend<0.001), potassium (Ptrend=0.002), vitamin B6 (Ptrend=0.03), vitamin B2 (Ptrend=0.001) and inverse relationships with vegetables (Ptrend=0.02) and beta-carotene (Ptrend=0.02). IGFBP-3 was not related with most of the nutrients and foods in this study.

Conclusions:

In this population, circulating IGF-I is modestly related with the intake of protein and minerals, and with milk and cheese, while IGFBP-3 does not appear to be related with diet.

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Acknowledgements

The work described in this paper was carried out with financial support of the ‘Europe Against Cancer Program’ of the European Commission (SANCO); Danish Cancer Society; German Cancer Aid; Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, 3M Company, INSERM; German Cancer Research Centre; German Federal Ministry of Education and Research; Dutch Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports; National Cancer Registry and the Regional Cancer Registries Amsterdam, East and Maastricht of The Netherlands; Norwegian Cancer Society; Norwegian Research Council; Health Research Fund (FIS) of the Spanish Ministry of Health; Greek Ministry of Health; Greek Ministry of Education; Italian Association for Research on Cancer; Spanish Regional Governments of Andalucia, Asturias, Basque Country, Murcia and Navarra and ISCIII, Red de Centros RCESP, C03/09; Swedish Cancer Society; Swedish Scientific Council; Regional Government of Skane, Sweden; Cancer Research UK; Medical Research Council, UK; Stroke Association, UK; British Heart Foundation; Department of Health, UK; Food Standards Agency, UK; Wellcome Trust, UK and the US Army Medical Research and Material Command (DAMD 17-01-0275).

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Correspondence to R Kaaks.

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Guarantor: R Kaaks. Contributors: RK is the principal investigator of the study. TN and LD carried out data analysis. SR conducted the laboratory analyses. The writing team was integrated by TN, LD, SR and RK. All authors contributed to the collection of data, interpretation of results and to the writing of the paper.

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Norat, T., Dossus, L., Rinaldi, S. et al. Diet, serum insulin-like growth factor-I and IGF-binding protein-3 in European women. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 91–98 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602494

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