A cross-sectional analysis of the associations between adult height, BMI and serum concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 -2 and -3 in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Height and BMI are risk factors for several types of cancer and may be related to circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), a peptide associated with increased cancer risk.

AIM:

To assess the associations between height, BMI and serum concentrations of IGF-I and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-1, -2 and -3.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

This cross-sectional analysis included 1142 men and 3589 women aged 32-77 years from the multi-centre study, the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

RESULTS:

In men, there was a positive association between height and IGF-I; each 10 cm increment in height was associated with an increase in IGF-I concentrations of 4.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-7.5%, p for trend = 0.005), but this association was not statistically significant for women (0.9%, 95% CI: - 0.7 to 2.6%, p for trend = 0.264). In both men and women, the association between IGF-I and BMI was non-linear and those with a BMI of 26-27 kg/m² had the highest IGF-I concentration. BMI was strongly inversely related to concentrations of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 in men and in women (p for trend for all < 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

Height and BMI are associated with IGF-I and its binding proteins, which may be mechanisms through which body size contributes to increased risk of several cancers.

• Authors: Francesca L Crowe, Timothy J Key, Naomi E Allen, Paul N Appleby, Kim Overvad, Henning Grønbæk, Anne Tjønneland, Jytte Halkjær, Laure Dossus, Heiner Boeing, Janine Kröger, Antonia Trichopoulou, Dimosthenis Zylis, Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault, Blandine de Lauzon-Guillain, Françoise Clavel-Chapelon, Domenico Palli, Franco Berrino, Salvatore Panico, Rosario Tumino, Carlotta Sacerdote, H Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, Carla H van Gils, Petra H M Peeters, Inger T Gram, Laudina Rodríguez, Paula Jakszyn, Esther Molina-Montes, Carmen Navarro, Aurelio Barricarte, Nerea Larrañaga, Kay-Tee Khaw, Sheila Rodwell, Sabina Rinaldi, Nadia Slimani, Teresa Norat, Valentina Gallo, Elio Riboli, Rudolf Kaaks
• Journal: Annals of human biology (Ann Hum Biol) Vol. 38 Issue 2 Pg. 194-202 (Mar 2011) ISSN: 1464-5033 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20731527 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Body Height
• Body Mass Index
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Europe
• Female
• Humans
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 (blood)
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (blood)
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (blood)
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (etiology)
• Nutritional Status
• Risk Factors