Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Association of dietary intake of milk and dairy products with blood concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in Bavarian adults

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Circulating IGF-1 concentrations have been associated with higher cancer risk, particularly prostate, breast and colorectal cancer. There is evidence from observational and intervention studies that milk and dairy products intake is associated with higher IGF-1 concentrations, but results were not always consistent. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dairy intake and circulating IGF-1 concentrations in participants of the Second Bavarian Food Consumption Survey, thereby providing data for a German population for the first time.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study of 526 men and women aged 18–80 years, in contrast to most previous investigations, dietary intake was assessed with a more detailed instrument than food frequency questionnaires (FFQs), i.e., by three 24-h dietary recalls conducted on random days close in time to the blood collection. Circulating IGF-1 concentrations were measured in blood samples. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association of dairy intake with IGF-1 concentrations.

Results

Each 400 g increment in daily dairy intake was associated with 16.8 µg/L (95% CI 6.9, 26.7) higher IGF-1 concentrations. Each 200 g increment in milk per day was associated with 10.0 µg/L (95% CI 4.2, 15.8) higher IGF-1. In contrast, we observed no association between cheese or yogurt intake and IGF-1 concentrations.

Conclusions

Our findings are in line with most previous investigations and support the hypothesis that dairy and milk intake are associated with higher IGF-1 concentrations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. van Heemst D (2010) Insulin, IGF-1 and longevity. Aging Dis 1(2):147–157

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Juul A, Bang P, Hertel NT, Main K, Dalgaard P, Jorgensen K, Muller J, Hall K, Skakkebaek NE (1994) Serum insulin-like growth factor-I in 1030 healthy children, adolescents, and adults: relation to age, sex, stage of puberty, testicular size, and body mass index. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 78(3):744–752

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fürstenberger G, Senn H-J (2002) Insulin-like growth factors and cancer. Lancet Oncol 3(5):298–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(02)00731-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Macaulay VM (1992) Insulin-like growth factors and cancer. Br J Cancer 65(3):311–320

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Travis RC, Appleby PN, Martin RM, Holly JMP, Albanes D, Black A, Bueno-de-Mesquita HBA, Chan JM, Chen C, Chirlaque MD, Cook MB, Deschasaux M, Donovan JL, Ferrucci L, Galan P, Giles GG, Giovannucci EL, Gunter MJ, Habel LA, Hamdy FC, Helzlsouer KJ, Hercberg S, Hoover RN, Janssen J, Kaaks R, Kubo T, Le Marchand L, Metter EJ, Mikami K, Morris JK, Neal DE, Neuhouser ML, Ozasa K, Palli D, Platz EA, Pollak M, Price AJ, Roobol MJ, Schaefer C, Schenk JM, Severi G, Stampfer MJ, Stattin P, Tamakoshi A, Tangen CM, Touvier M, Wald NJ, Weiss NS, Ziegler RG, Key TJ, Allen NE (2016) A meta-analysis of individual participant data reveals an association between circulating levels of IGF-I and prostate cancer risk. Can Res 76(8):2288–2300. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-1551

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rinaldi S, Cleveland R, Norat T, Biessy C, Rohrmann S, Linseisen J, Boeing H, Pischon T, Panico S, Agnoli C, Palli D, Tumino R, Vineis P, Peeters PH, van Gils CH, Bueno-de-Mesquita BH, Vrieling A, Allen NE, Roddam A, Bingham S, Khaw KT, Manjer J, Borgquist S, Dumeaux V, Torhild Gram I, Lund E, Trichopoulou A, Makrygiannis G, Benetou V, Molina E, Donate Suarez I, Barricarte Gurrea A, Gonzalez CA, Tormo MJ, Altzibar JM, Olsen A, Tjonneland A, Gronbaek H, Overvad K, Clavel-Chapelon F, Boutron-Ruault MC, Morois S, Slimani N, Boffetta P, Jenab M, Riboli E, Kaaks R (2010) Serum levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and colorectal cancer risk: results from the EPIC cohort, plus a meta-analysis of prospective studies. Int J Cancer 126(7):1702–1715

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hormones TE, Breast Cancer Collaborative Group (2010) Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP3), and breast cancer risk: pooled individual data analysis of 17 prospective studies. Lancet Oncol 11(6):530–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Harrison S, Lennon R, Holly J, Higgins JPT, Gardner M, Perks C, Gaunt T, Tan V, Borwick C, Emmet P, Jeffreys M, Northstone K, Rinaldi S, Thomas S, Turner SD, Pease A, Vilenchick V, Martin RM, Lewis SJ (2017) Does milk intake promote prostate cancer initiation or progression via effects on insulin-like growth factors (IGFs)? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Causes Control 28(6):497–528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-017-0883-1

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Crowe FL, Key TJ, Allen NE, Appleby PN, Roddam A, Overvad K, Gronbaek H, Tjonneland A, Halkjaer J, Dossus L, Boeing H, Kroger J, Trichopoulou A, Dilis V, Trichopoulos D, Boutron-Ruault MC, De Lauzon B, Clavel-Chapelon F, Palli D, Berrino F, Panico S, Tumino R, Sacerdote C, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Vrieling A, van Gils CH, Peeters PH, Gram IT, Skeie G, Lund E, Rodriguez L, Jakszyn P, Molina-Montes E, Tormo MJ, Barricarte A, Larranaga N, Khaw KT, Bingham S, Rinaldi S, Slimani N, Norat T, Gallo V, Riboli E, Kaaks R (2009) The association between diet and serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3 in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 18(5):1333–1340. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0781

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. DeLellis K, Rinaldi S, Kaaks RJ, Kolonel LN, Henderson B, Le Marchand L (2004) Dietary and lifestyle correlates of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3): the multiethnic cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 13(9):1444–1451

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Giovannucci E, Pollak M, Liu Y, Platz EA, Majeed N, Rimm EB, Willett WC (2003) Nutritional predictors of insulin-like growth factor I and their relationships to cancer in men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 12(2):84–89

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gunnell D, Oliver SE, Peters TJ, Donovan JL, Persad R, Maynard M, Gillatt D, Pearce A, Hamdy FC, Neal DE, Holly JMP (2003) Are diet–prostate cancer associations mediated by the IGF axis? A cross-sectional analysis of diet, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in healthy middle-aged men. Br J Cancer 88(11):1682–1686. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6600946

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Holmes MD, Pollak MN, Willett WC, Hankinson SE (2002) Dietary correlates of plasma insulin-like growth factor I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 concentrations. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 11(9):852–861

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Larsson SC, Wolk K, Brismar K, Wolk A (2005) Association of diet with serum insulin-like growth factor I in middle-aged and elderly men. Am J Clin Nutr 81(5):1163–1167. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/81.5.1163

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ma J, Giovannucci E, Pollak M, Chan JM, Gaziano JM, Willett W, Stampfer MJ (2001) Milk intake, circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I, and risk of colorectal cancer in men. J Natl Cancer Inst 93(17):1330–1336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. McGreevy KM, Hoel BD, Lipsitz SR, Hoel DG (2007) Impact of nutrients on insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 and their ratio in African American and white males. Public Health Nutr 10(1):97–105. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980007217999

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Morimoto LM, Newcomb PA, White E, Bigler J, Potter JD (2005) Variation in plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3: personal and lifestyle factors (United States). Cancer Causes Control CCC 16(8):917–927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-2702-3

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Mucci LA, Tamimi R, Lagiou P, Trichopoulou A, Benetou V, Spanos E, Trichopoulos D (2001) Are dietary influences on the risk of prostate cancer mediated through the insulin-like growth factor system? BJU Int 87(9):814–820

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Norat T, Dossus L, Rinaldi S, Overvad K, Gronbaek H, Tjonneland A, Olsen A, Clavel-Chapelon F, Boutron-Ruault MC, Boeing H, Lahmann PH, Linseisen J, Nagel G, Trichopoulou A, Trichopoulos D, Kalapothaki V, Sieri S, Palli D, Panico S, Tumino R, Sacerdote C, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Peeters PH, van Gils CH, Agudo A, Amiano P, Ardanoz E, Martinez C, Quiros R, Tormo MJ, Bingham S, Key TJ, Allen NE, Ferrari P, Slimani N, Riboli E, Kaaks R (2007) Diet, serum insulin-like growth factor-I and IGF-binding protein-3 in European women. Eur J Clin Nutr 61(1):91–98. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602494

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Signorello LB, Kuper H, Lagiou P, Wuu J, Mucci LA, Trichopoulos D, Adami HO (2000) Lifestyle factors and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels among elderly men. Eur J Cancer Prev 9(3):173–178

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Young NJ, Metcalfe C, Gunnell D, Rowlands MA, Lane JA, Gilbert R, Avery KN, Davis M, Neal DE, Hamdy FC, Donovan J, Martin RM, Holly JM (2012) A cross-sectional analysis of the association between diet and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-2, and IGFBP-3 in men in the United Kingdom. Cancer Causes Control CCC 23(6):907–917. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-9961-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Beasley JM, Gunter MJ, LaCroix AZ, Prentice RL, Neuhouser ML, Tinker LF, Vitolins MZ, Strickler HD (2013) Associations of serum insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 levels with biomarker-calibrated protein, dairy product and milk intake in the Women’s Health Initiative. Br J Nutr 111(05):847–853. https://doi.org/10.1017/s000711451300319x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Freedman LS, Commins JM, Moler JE, Arab L, Baer DJ, Kipnis V, Midthune D, Moshfegh AJ, Neuhouser ML, Prentice RL, Schatzkin A, Spiegelman D, Subar AF, Tinker LF, Willett W (2014) Pooled results from 5 validation studies of dietary self-report instruments using recovery biomarkers for energy and protein intake. Am J Epidemiol 180(2):172–188. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwu116

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Schwedhelm C, Pischon T, Rohrmann S, Himmerich H, Linseisen J, Nimptsch K (2017) Plasma inflammation markers of the tumor necrosis factor pathway but not C-reactive protein are associated with processed meat and unprocessed red meat consumption in bavarian adults. J Nutr 147(1):78–85. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.116.237180

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Himmerich S, Gedrich K, Karg G (2004) Bayerische Verzehrsstudie (BVS) II Abschlussbericht. Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Umwelt, Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz, München-Weihenstephan

  26. Slimani N, Deharveng G, Charrondiere RU, van Kappel AL, Ocke MC, Welch A, Lagiou A, van Liere M, Agudo A, Pala V, Brandstetter B, Andren C, Stripp C, van Staveren WA, Riboli E (1999) Structure of the standardized computerized 24-h diet recall interview used as reference method in the 22 centers participating in the EPIC project. European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition. Comput Methods Progr Biomed 58(3):251–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Slimani N, Ferrari P, Ocke M, Welch A, Boeing H, Liere M, Pala V, Amiano P, Lagiou A, Mattisson I, Stripp C, Engeset D, Charrondiere R, Buzzard M, Staveren W, Riboli E (2000) Standardization of the 24-hour diet recall calibration method used in the european prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC): general concepts and preliminary results. EurJClinNutr 54(12):900–917

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Umschau (2003) Kalorien mundgerecht. Nestlé Deutschland AG, Frankfurt/Main

    Google Scholar 

  29. Thissen JP, Pucilowska JB, Underwood LE (1994) 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 134(3):1570–1576. https://doi.org/10.1210/endo.134.3.7509741

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Takahashi S, Kajikawa M, Umezawa T, Takahashi S, Kato H, Miura Y, Nam TJ, Noguchi T, Naito H (1990) Effect of dietary proteins on the plasma immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor-1/somatomedin C concentration in the rat. Br J Nutr 63(3):521–534

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Takenaka A, Oki N, Takahashi SI, Noguchi T (2000) Dietary restriction of single essential amino acids reduces plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) but does not affect plasma IGF-binding protein-1 in rats. J Nutr 130(12):2910–2914. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.12.2910

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Probst-Hensch NM, Wang H, Goh VH, Seow A, Lee HP, Yu MC (2003) 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 Biomark Prev 12(8):739–746

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Philipps AF, Dvorak B, Kling PJ, Grille JG, Koldovsky O (2000) Absorption of milk-borne insulin-like growth factor-I into portal blood of suckling rats. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 31(2):128–135

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Heaney RP, McCarron DA, Dawson-Hughes B, Oparil S, Berga SL, Stern JS, Barr SI, Rosen CJ (1999) Dietary changes favorably affect bone remodeling in older adults. J Am Diet Assoc 99(10):1228–1233. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-8223(99)00302-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Budek AZ, Hoppe C, Michaelsen KF, Bugel S, Molgaard C (2007) Associations of total, dairy, and meat protein with markers for bone turnover in healthy, prepubertal boys. J Nutr 137(4):930–934

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Rich-Edwards JW, Ganmaa D, Pollak MN, Nakamoto EK, Kleinman K, Tserendolgor U, Willett WC, Frazier AL (2007) Milk consumption and the prepubertal somatotropic axis. Nutr J 6:28. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-6-28

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Hoppe C, Molgaard C, Juul A, Michaelsen KF (2004) High intakes of skimmed milk, but not meat, increase serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in eight-year-old boys. Eur J Clin Nutr 58(9):1211–1216. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601948

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Kipnis V, Midthune D, Buckman DW, Dodd KW, Guenther PM, Krebs-Smith SM, Subar AF, Tooze JA, Carroll RJ, Freedman LS (2009) Modeling data with excess zeros and measurement error: application to evaluating relationships between episodically consumed foods and health outcomes. Biometrics 65(4):1003–1010. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0420.2009.01223.x

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Prentice RL, Mossavar-Rahmani Y, Huang Y, Van Horn L, Beresford SA, Caan B, Tinker L, Schoeller D, Bingham S, Eaton CB, Thomson C, Johnson KC, Ockene J, Sarto G, Heiss G, Neuhouser ML (2011) Evaluation and comparison of food records, recalls, and frequencies for energy and protein assessment by using recovery biomarkers. Am J Epidemiol 174(5):591–603. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwr140

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the cooperation of all study participants. We thank Georg Karg, Kurt Gedrich and Stefanie Himmerich for their major contribution in the setup and conduct of the Second Bavarian Food Consumption Survey. This work was supported by funds of the Bavarian Ministry of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection and the Kurt-Eberhard-Bode-Stiftung. The funder had no role in the design, analysis or writing of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125, Berlin, Germany

    Eugenia Romo Ventura, Stefan Konigorski, Tobias Pischon & Katharina Nimptsch

  2. Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Respiratory Infections Unit, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany

    Eugenia Romo Ventura

  3. Digital Health and Machine Learning Research Group, Hasso Plattner Institute, Potsdam, Germany

    Stefan Konigorski

  4. Division of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Sabine Rohrmann

  5. Center for Endocrinology and Metabolism, Munich, Germany

    Harald Schneider

  6. Medicover Neuroendocrinology, Munich, Germany

    Guenter K. Stalla

  7. Clinical Neuroendocrinology, Max-Planck-Institute, Munich, Germany

    Guenter K. Stalla

  8. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany

    Guenter K. Stalla

  9. Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany

    Tobias Pischon

  10. Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany

    Tobias Pischon

  11. DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Tobias Pischon

  12. Chair of Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, at UNIKA-T Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany

    Jakob Linseisen

  13. Clinical Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany

    Jakob Linseisen

Authors
  1. Eugenia Romo Ventura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefan Konigorski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sabine Rohrmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Harald Schneider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guenter K. Stalla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tobias Pischon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jakob Linseisen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Katharina Nimptsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katharina Nimptsch.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Romo Ventura, E., Konigorski, S., Rohrmann, S. et al. 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 59, 1413–1420 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01994-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-019-01994-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation