Associations of Circulating Insulin-like Growth Factor-I with Intake of Dietary Proteins and Other Macronutrients

Overview

Journal Clin Nutr

Publisher Elsevier

Date 2021 Jul 8

PMID 34237695

Citations 10

Authors

Cody Z Watling

Rebecca K Kelly

Tammy Y N Tong

Carmen Piernas

Eleanor L Watts

Sandar Tin Tin

Anika Knuppel

Julie A Schmidt

Ruth C Travis

Timothy J Key

Aurora Perez-Cornago

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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. 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 cross-sectional 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: -0.07 nmol/L (-0.40, 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: -1.36 nmol/L (-1.00, -1.71)).

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 intake but no association with cheese protein. The positive association of fibre and starch from wholegrains with IGF-I warrants further investigation.

Citing Articles

Growth hormone signaling and clinical implications: from molecular to therapeutic perspectives.

Aghili Z, Khoshnevisan G, Mostoli R, Alibaglouei M, Zarkesh-Esfahani S Mol Biol Rep. 2025; 52(1):202.

PMID: 39904816 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-025-10304-w.

Protein intake and cancer: an umbrella review of systematic reviews for the evidence-based guideline of the German Nutrition Society.

Kuhn T, Kalotai N, Amini A, Haardt J, Lehmann A, Schmidt A Eur J Nutr. 2024; 63(5):1471-1486.

PMID: 38643440 PMC: 11329548. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03380-4.

Higher insoluble fiber intake is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer: results from the PLCO cohort.

Shen Y, Yuan Q, Shi M, Luo B BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):234.

PMID: 38243202 PMC: 10799495. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17768-8.

Acne Transcriptomics: Fundamentals of Acne Pathogenesis and Isotretinoin Treatment.

Melnik B Cells. 2023; 12(22).

PMID: 37998335 PMC: 10670572. DOI: 10.3390/cells12222600.

Effect of imbalance in dietary macronutrients on blood hemoglobin levels: a cross-sectional study in young underweight Japanese women.

Tateishi Y, Ichikawa R, Suzuki K, Kitahara Y, Someya Y, Tamura Y Front Nutr. 2023; 10:1121717.

PMID: 37408992 PMC: 10319048. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1121717.

References

Norat T, Dossus L, Rinaldi S, Overvad K, Gronbaek H, Tjonneland A . Diet, serum insulin-like growth factor-I and IGF-binding protein-3 in European women. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006; 61(1):91-8. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602494. View

Greenwood D, Hardie L, Frost G, Alwan N, Bradbury K, Carter M . Validation of the Oxford WebQ Online 24-Hour Dietary Questionnaire Using Biomarkers. Am J Epidemiol. 2019; 188(10):1858-1867. PMC: 7254925. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwz165. View

Liu B, Young H, Crowe F, Benson V, Spencer E, Key T . Development and evaluation of the Oxford WebQ, a low-cost, web-based method for assessment of previous 24 h dietary intakes in large-scale prospective studies. Public Health Nutr. 2011; 14(11):1998-2005. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980011000942. View

Pollak M . Insulin and insulin-like growth factor signalling in neoplasia. Nat Rev Cancer. 2008; 8(12):915-28. DOI: 10.1038/nrc2536. View

Baibas N, Bamia C, Vassilopoulou E, Sdrolias J, Trichopoulou A, Trichopoulos D . Dietary and lifestyle factors in relation to plasma insulin-like growth factor I in a general population sample. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2003; 12(3):229-34. DOI: 10.1097/00008469-200306000-00010. View

Allen N, Appleby P, Davey G, Kaaks R, Rinaldi S, Key T . The associations of diet with serum insulin-like growth factor I and its main binding proteins in 292 women meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002; 11(11):1441-8. View

Thissen J, Pucilowska J, Underwood L . Differential regulation of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-1 messenger ribonucleic acids by amino acid availability and growth hormone in rat hepatocyte primary culture. Endocrinology. 1994; 134(3):1570-6. DOI: 10.1210/endo.134.3.7509741. View

Ronis M, Wands J, Badger T, de la Monte S, Lang C, Calissendorff J . Alcohol-induced disruption of endocrine signaling. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007; 31(8):1269-85. DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2007.00436.x. View

Cintineo H, Arent M, Antonio J, Arent S . Effects of Protein Supplementation on Performance and Recovery in Resistance and Endurance Training. Front Nutr. 2018; 5:83. PMC: 6142015. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2018.00083. View

10.

Murphy N, Knuppel A, Papadimitriou N, Martin R, Tsilidis K, Smith-Byrne K . Insulin-like growth factor-1, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3, and breast cancer risk: observational and Mendelian randomization analyses with ∼430 000 women. Ann Oncol. 2020; 31(5):641-649. PMC: 7221341. DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.01.066. View

11.

Yuan S, Wan Z, Cheng S, Michaelsson K, Larsson S . Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, Bone Mineral Density, and Fracture: A Mendelian Randomization Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021; 106(4):e1552-e1558. PMC: 7993594. DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa963. View

12.

Jones J, Clemmons D . Insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins: biological actions. Endocr Rev. 1995; 16(1):3-34. DOI: 10.1210/edrv-16-1-3. View

13.

Romo Ventura E, Konigorski S, Rohrmann S, Schneider H, Stalla G, Pischon T . Association of dietary intake of milk and dairy products with blood concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in Bavarian adults. Eur J Nutr. 2019; 59(4):1413-1420. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-019-01994-7. View

14.

Papier K, Tong T, Appleby P, Bradbury K, Fensom G, Knuppel A . Comparison of Major Protein-Source Foods and Other Food Groups in Meat-Eaters and Non-Meat-Eaters in the EPIC-Oxford Cohort. Nutrients. 2019; 11(4). PMC: 6521004. DOI: 10.3390/nu11040824. View

15.

Ballard T, Clapper J, Specker B, Binkley T, Vukovich M . Effect of protein supplementation during a 6-mo strength and conditioning program on insulin-like growth factor I and markers of bone turnover in young adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005; 81(6):1442-8. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/81.6.1442. View

16.

Allen N, Appleby P, Davey G, Key T . Hormones and diet: low insulin-like growth factor-I but normal bioavailable androgens in vegan men. Br J Cancer. 2000; 83(1):95-7. PMC: 2374537. DOI: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1152. View

17.

Probst-Hensch N, Wang H, Goh V, Seow A, Lee H, Yu M . Determinants of circulating insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 concentrations in a cohort of Singapore men and women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003; 12(8):739-46. View

18.

Hoppe C, Molgaard C, Dalum C, Vaag A, Michaelsen K . Differential effects of casein versus whey on fasting plasma levels of insulin, IGF-1 and IGF-1/IGFBP-3: results from a randomized 7-day supplementation study in prepubertal boys. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009; 63(9):1076-83. DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.34. View

19.

Murphy N, Carreras-Torres R, Song M, Chan A, Martin R, Papadimitriou N . Circulating Levels of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 Associate With Risk of Colorectal Cancer Based on Serologic and Mendelian Randomization Analyses. Gastroenterology. 2019; 158(5):1300-1312.e20. PMC: 7152801. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.12.020. View

20.

Giovannucci E, Pollak M, Liu Y, Platz E, Majeed N, Rimm E . Nutritional predictors of insulin-like growth factor I and their relationships to cancer in men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003; 12(2):84-9. View