OBJECTIVE:Weight at birth and adult height are positively associated with cancer risk. These patterns may be mediated by the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis. We have examined whether pre- and postnatal growth patterns have a long-term influence on adult IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. DESIGN: A follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial of milk supplementation in pregnancy and childhood. SUBJECTS: A total of 951 individuals took part in a study of diet and growth in South Wales between 1972 and 1974 followed up from birth until their mid-20s. MEASUREMENTS: Anthopometric measures at birth, postnatally up to 5 years of age and in adulthood, and serum measures of IGF-I and IGF-I to IGFBP-3 ratio at mean age of 25 years. RESULTS: A total of 63 subjects (70%) provided blood for analysis. We found no association between birth dimensions and adult IGF-I. Subjects who exhibited 'catch-down growth' had lower IGF-I levels (P-value for trend 0.02). Adult height was positively related to IGF-I, for every one standard deviation increase in adult height, IGF-I increased by 3.75 ng/dl (95% CI 0.46-7.08, P = 0.03). Adiposity was inversely associated with the IGF-I and IGF-I to IGFBP-3 ratio and positively associated with IGFBP-3. The strength of the associations increased with age. Downward centile crossing at any time in childhood was associated with lower IGF-I whilst the highest levels were observed in subjects who were tall throughout their early life course. Adult height remained a significant predictor of IGF-I even after adjustment for earlier growth. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that IGF-I levels in early adulthood are associated with patterns of childhood growth as well as adult stature and adiposity. These associations suggest the IGFs may contribute to anthropometric associations with cancer risk.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Weight at birth and adult height are positively associated with cancer risk. These patterns may be mediated by the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis. We have examined whether pre- and postnatal growth patterns have a long-term influence on adult IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. DESIGN: A follow-up study of a randomized controlled trial of milk supplementation in pregnancy and childhood. SUBJECTS: A total of 951 individuals took part in a study of diet and growth in South Wales between 1972 and 1974 followed up from birth until their mid-20s. MEASUREMENTS: Anthopometric measures at birth, postnatally up to 5 years of age and in adulthood, and serum measures of IGF-I and IGF-I to IGFBP-3 ratio at mean age of 25 years. RESULTS: A total of 63 subjects (70%) provided blood for analysis. We found no association between birth dimensions and adult IGF-I. Subjects who exhibited 'catch-down growth' had lower IGF-I levels (P-value for trend 0.02). Adult height was positively related to IGF-I, for every one standard deviation increase in adult height, IGF-I increased by 3.75 ng/dl (95% CI 0.46-7.08, P = 0.03). Adiposity was inversely associated with the IGF-I and IGF-I to IGFBP-3 ratio and positively associated with IGFBP-3. The strength of the associations increased with age. Downward centile crossing at any time in childhood was associated with lower IGF-I whilst the highest levels were observed in subjects who were tall throughout their early life course. Adult height remained a significant predictor of IGF-I even after adjustment for earlier growth. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that IGF-I levels in early adulthood are associated with patterns of childhood growth as well as adult stature and adiposity. These associations suggest the IGFs may contribute to anthropometric associations with cancer risk.
Authors: Elizabeth M Poole; Shelley S Tworoger; Susan E Hankinson; Eva S Schernhammer; Michael N Pollak; Heather J Baer Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2011-08-09 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Michelle Lampl; Francesca Gotsch; Juan Pedro Kusanovic; Jimmy Espinoza; Luis Gonçalves; Ricardo Gomez; Jyh Kae Nien; Edward A Frongillo; Roberto Romero Journal: Ann Hum Biol Date: 2008 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.533
Authors: Natalie R Smith; Britt W Jensen; Esther Zimmermann; Michael Gamborg; Thorkild I A Sørensen; Jennifer L Baker Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Date: 2016-05-17 Impact factor: 2.984