Associations of circulating insulin-like growth factor-I with intake of dietary proteins and other macronutrients

Abstract

Background & aims: Circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is associated with the risk of several cancers. Dietary protein intake, particularly dairy protein, may increase circulating IGF-I; however, associations with different protein sources, other macronutrients, and fibre are inconclusive. Aim: To investigate the associations between intake of protein, macronutrients and their sources, fibre, and alcohol with serum IGF-I concentrations. Methods: A total of 11,815 participants from UK Biobank who completed !4 24-h dietary assessments and had serum IGF-I concentrations measured at baseline were included. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the crossesectional associations of macronutrient and fibre intake with circulating IGF-I concentrations. Results: Circulating IGF-I concentrations were positively associated with intake of total protein (per 2.5% higher energy intake: 0.56 nmol/L (95% confidence interval: 0.47, 0.66)), milk protein: 1.20 nmol/L (0.90, 1.51), and yogurt protein: 1.33 nmol/L (0.79, 1.86), but not with cheese protein: À0.07 nmol/L (À0.40, 0.25). IGF-I concentrations were also positively associated with intake of fibre (per 5 g/day higher intake: 0.46 nmol/L (0.35, 0.57)) and starch from wholegrains (Q5 vs. Q1: 1.08 nmol/L (0.77, 1.39)), and inversely associated with alcohol consumption (>40 g/day vs < 1 g/day: À1.36 nmol/L (À1.00, À1.71)). Conclusions: These results show differing associations with IGF-I concentrations depending on the source of dairy protein, with positive associations with milk and yogurt protein but no association with cheese protein. The positive association of fibre and starch from wholegrains with IGF-I warrants further investigation.

Association between IGF‐1 levels ranges and all‐cause mortality: A meta‐analysis

“…Because nutrition is perhaps the most relevant modulator of IGF‐1 levels (Key, 2011 ; Levine et al, 2014 ; Watling et al, 2021 ), third national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES III, 1988–1994) data were used to investigate the relationship between IGF‐1 and the daily intake of specific nutrients. The study population included 1152 men and 1453 women.…”

“…*For both Friedrich' studies IGF-1 cutoffs were computed as mean values of the groups identified according to the age-and sex-specific 10th and 90th percentile. (d, e) Forest plot of pooled analysis for the low (d) and the high (e) categories of IGF-1 compared to the middle category (hazard ratios reported in the log scale in both panels)2.6 | Epidemiological diet studyBecause nutrition is perhaps the most relevant modulator of IGF-1 levels(Key, 2011;Levine et al, 2014;Watling et al, 2021), third national health and nutrition examination survey(NHANES III, 1988-1994 data were used to investigate the relationship between IGF-1 and the daily intake of specific nutrients. The study population included 1152 men and 1453 women.…”

Risk of cancer in regular and low meat-eaters, fish-eaters, and vegetarians: a prospective analysis of UK Biobank participants

“…To date, no established dietary risk factor has been found in relation to prostate cancer risk, although there is some evidence which suggests that higher intake of dairy products, and possibly milk specifically, may increase the risk of prostate cancer [48]. This association has been proposed to be possibly mediated through IGF-I [22,49], a hormone shown to be positively associated with both milk intake and prostate cancer risk [25,50]. In this cohort, slightly lower IGF-I concentrations have been observed in vegetarians compared to regular meat-eaters [21], and IGF-I has also been associated with prostate cancer risk [25]; however, the difference in IGF-I concentrations between these diet groups is small and may not confer a substantial difference in prostate cancer risk.…”

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Energy-Dense Diet: What Is the Role of the Insulin/IGF Axis?

“…Due to its main functions in growth, IGF-1, as well as growth hormone (GH), nutrients are an important part of its signaling transduction regulation. In this sense, clinical and experimental studies have shown that intake of protein (especially from milk and yogurt), fibre, starch from wholegrains, redmeats, fats and oils are positively associated with IGF-1 serum levels (19)(20)(21). The disparity of one or more nutrients could affect growth, anabolism and nutrient sensing.…”