Relationship between a wide range of alcohol consumptions, components of the insulin-like growth factor system and adiponectin

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relation between a wide range of alcohol consumptions and levels of the components of insulin-like growth factor system (IGFs) and adiponectin in humans. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using controls from a case-control study on ovarian and endometrial cancer. SETTINGS: The study included women hospitalized between 1999 and 2002 in Pordenone, Italy. SUBJECTS: One hundred and eight cancer-free (controls) with a median age of 61 years (range 29-79 years), admitted for acute conditions unrelated to gynecologic, hormonal or metabolic disorders or diseases leading to dietary modifications. INTERVENTIONS: Levels of IGF-I (total and free), total IGF-II, IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), IGFBP-3 and adiponectin were individually measured, and their distributions across strata of alcohol consumption were tested by the Kruskal-Wallis statistic. RESULTS: Median concentrations of total IGF-I were higher (P<0.01) in women reporting low (151 ng/ml) or no alcohol consumption (134 ng/ml) compared to drinkers of 12-23 g/day (103 ng/ml) or >or=24 g/day (118 ng/ml). Median concentrations were higher (P=0.05) for IGFBP-3 in non-drinkers (2333 ng/ml) and in light drinkers (2647 ng/ml) compared to drinkers of >or=24 g/day (2090 ng/ml). No statistically significant difference emerged for other IGFs across levels of alcohol intakes. Adiponectin was slightly lower for non-drinkers, compared to all drinkers categories. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that alcohol consumption is related to circulating levels of components of the IGF system and adiponectin. These results may have a potential impact on the prevention of several chronic diseases. SPONSORSHIP: Italian Association for Research on Cancer, Milan, Italy, and Italian League against Tumours, Milan, Italy.