Serum insulin and glucose levels and breast cancer incidence: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.
The authors examined the association of breast cancer incidence with serum levels of insulin and glucose in a cohort of 7,894 women aged 45-64 years from four US communities. Anthropometric factors and fasting levels of insulin and glucose were measured at baseline (1987-1989). Over an average follow-up period of 7.1 years (1987-1995), 187 breast cancer cases were ascertained. Breast cancer was associated positively with body mass index but not with waist:hip ratio or serum insulin level. After adjustment for age, race, and study site, the incidence of breast cancer was 60% higher among diabetic women than among women with fasting glucose levels under 100 mg/dl, but this association was attenuated after further adjustment for body mass index and other covariates (adjusted rate ratio = 1.39, 95% confidence interval: 0.86, 2.23). Circulating insulin levels were not predictive of future breast cancer incidence, but there may be a weak association with type 2 diabetes, perhaps modulated via increased adiposity.
Division of Cancer Prevention and Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. minkp@mail.nih.gov
Pamela J
PJ
Mink
Eyal
E
Shahar
Wayne D
WD
Rosamond
Anthony J
AJ
Alberg
Aaron R
AR
Folsom
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin