High serum concentrations and bioactivity of insulin and IGF-1 may promote the development and proliferation of cancerous cells.
This research work was carried out to determine the correlation between diet, insulin, and IGF-1 metabolism and cancer development risk. Researchers examined several published literatures on the subject.
They discovered that high plasma levels and increased bioactivity of insulin and IGF-1 promoted cell proliferation and inhibit programmed cell death, which contributed positively to the development of tumor and cancerous cells in the colon, breast, endometrium, prostate, and pancreas. Nutrition and physical activity were observed to be linked with IGF-1 bioactivity in this study. The findings of this study reveal that high glycemic load, high consumption of saturated fats and animal proteins, and lack of exercise are associated with increased risk of cancer.