Lycopene supplementation elevates circulating insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 and -2 concentrations in persons at greater risk of colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Higher circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations have been related to a greater risk of cancer. Lycopene intake is inversely associated with cancer risk, and experimental studies have shown that it may affect the IGF system, possibly through an effect on IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs).


OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to investigate the effect of an 8-wk supplementation with tomato-derived lycopene (30 mg/d) on serum concentrations of total IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover study in 40 men and 31 postmenopausal women with a family history of colorectal cancer, a personal history of colorectal adenoma, or both.


RESULTS
Lycopene supplementation significantly (P = 0.01) increased serum IGFBP-1 concentrations in women (median relative difference between serum IGFBP-1 concentrations after lycopene supplementation and after placebo, 21.7%). Serum IGFBP-2 concentrations were higher in both men and women after lycopene supplementation than after placebo, but to a lesser extent (mean relative difference 8.2%; 95% CI: 0.7%, 15.6% in men and 7.8%; 95% CI: -5.0%, 20.6% in women). Total IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 concentrations were not significantly altered by lycopene supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study known to show that lycopene supplementation may increase circulating IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 concentrations. Because of high interindividual variations in IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-2 effects, these results should be confirmed in larger randomized intervention studies.
Vrieling
Alina
A
Division of Experimental Therapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Voskuil
Dorien W
DW
Bonfrer
Johannes M
JM
Korse
Catharina M
CM
van Doorn
Jaap
J
Cats
Annemieke
A
Depla
Annekatrien C
AC
Timmer
Robin
R
Witteman
Ben J
BJ
van Leeuwen
Flora E
FE
Van't Veer
Laura J
LJ
Rookus
Matti A
MA
Kampman
Ellen
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood*; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 / Q000097:blood*; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk
D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D018971:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene