Chronic Elevation of Insulin, IGF Levels May Raise Colon Cancer Risk – (11-09-00)

Chronic Elevation of Insulin, IGF Levels May Raise Colon Cancer Risk

Previous studies have shown that refined carbs, which stimulate a strong insulin response, increase risk of many types of cancer. This may be the mechanism by which this happens. Also of note is the fact that the use of human growth hormone will raise the levels of IGF–creating doubt about the beneficial use of HGH as a fountain of youth wonder.

J Natl Cancer Inst 2000;92:1592-1600 The risk of colorectal cancer may be increased by chronically high levels of circulating insulin and insulinlike growth factors (IGFs) associated with a Western lifestyle, possibly by decreasing IGF-binding protein 1 and increasing the bioactivity of IGF-I. Dr. Rudolf Kaaks, of the International Agency for research on Cancer, in Lyon, France, and colleagues note in the October 4th issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that “leading a Western lifestyle, being overweight and being sedentary are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.” “Furthermore, the slightly stronger association of levels of serum C-peptide with risk of colon cancer than with risk of cancers of the colon and rectum combined also fits observations that obesity and lack of physical activity are related to an increased risk particularly of colon cancer,” they conclude.