Dietary fat and carbohydrates are independently associated with circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 concentrations in healthy adults

Purpose: To evaluate and quantity the association between consumption of sp ecific food groups/macronutrients and concentrations of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (I GFBP-3), Subjects and Methods: Data from a comprehensive food-frequency questionnair e administered to 115 healthy subjects were used to study cross-sectionally the relationship between nutritional factors and circulating IGF-1 and IGF BP-3 concentrations. Adjustment for the effect of fetal energy intake and a series of epidemiologic parameters (age, sex, height, body mass index, smo king, alcohol consumption, and coffee drinking) was implemented through mul tivariate linear regression. Results: We observed that serum levels of IGF-1 are positively associated w ith consumption of red meats, fats, and oils. In addition, serum levels of IGF-1 are independently and positively associated with energy intake from l ipids and negatively associated with energy intake from carbohydrates. fina lly serum levels of IGFBP-3 are independently and negatively associated wit h energy intake from saturated fat. Conclusion: Serum IGF-1 and/or IGFBP-3 concentrations are associated with r ed meat, carbohydrate intake, and fat intake and, thus, may mediate the eff ect of these dietary factors on the pathogenesis of several disease states. Additional studies are needed to further quantify these associations and e lucidate the underlying mechanisms, (C) 1999 by American Society of Clinica l Oncology.