Uterine Fibroids

Research from D.D. Baird and colleagues provide new insights into fibroids

Uterine Fibroids Library Library Home This article was published in Biotech Business Week, which you can subscribe to online.

"Participants were 35-49-year-old, randomly selected members of an urban health plan who were enrolled in the study in 1996-1999. Premenopausal participants were screened for fibroids with ultrasound. Fasting blood samples were collected. Associations between fibroids and diabetes, plasma IGF-I, IGF binding protein 3 (BP3), and insulin were evaluated for blacks (n = 585) and whites (n 403) by using multiple logistic regression. IGF-I showed no association with fibroids in blacks, but in whites the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for both mid and upper tertiles compared with the lowest tertile were 0.6 (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.3-1.0 and 0.4-1.1, respectively). Insulin and diabetes both tended to be inversely associated with fibroids in blacks. The insulin association was with large fibroids; aOR for the upper insulin tertile relative to the lowest was 0.4 (0.2-0.9). The aOR for diabetes was 0.5 (0.2-1.0). Associations of insulin and diabetes with fibroids were weak for whites. Binding protein 3 showed no association with fibroids. Contrary to our hypothesis, high circulating IGF-I and insulin were not related to increased fibroid prevalence. Instead, there was suggestion of the opposite. The inverse association with diabetes, although based on small numbers, is consistent with previously reported findings," wrote D.D. Baird and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Future studies might investigate vascular dysfunction as a mediator between hyperinsulinemia or diabetes and possible reduced risk of fibroids. (Epidemiology 2009-120: 604-610)'."

Baird and colleagues published their study in Epidemiology (Uterine Leiomyomata in Relation to Insulin-like Growth Factor-I, Insulin, and Diabetes. Epidemiology, 2009;20(4):604-610).

For additional information, contact D.D. Baird, National Institute Environmental Health Science, Epidemiology Branch, A3-05, 111 TW Alexander, Bldg 101, Rm 308, POB 12233, Research Triangle Pk, NC 27709, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Epidemiology is: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA.

Keywords: United States, Cancer, Cell Proliferation, Diabetes, Epidemiology, Fibroids, Gynecology, IGF I, Leiomyoma, Leiomyomata, Managed Care, Oncology, Therapy, Treatment.

This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.