Lack of Association Between Insulin Sensitivity and Colorectal Adenoma Risk

Insulin resistance is thought to mediate the association between obesity and colorectal neoplasia, but no prior studies have assessed stimulated insulin sensitivity as a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia. This prospective study examined the association between insulin sensitivity measured directly using the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT) and later risk of colorectal adenomas. Among participants with a range of glucose tolerance levels enrolled in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study, colonoscopies were conducted on 600 participants ages >= 50 yr, regardless of symptoms, about 10 yr after the first FSIGT and 5 yr after the second. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used. Within this cohort, diabetes was not associated with colorectal adenoma risk [similar to 10 yr prior to colonoscopy adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.62-1.62 or similar to 5 yr prior to colonoscopy ORadj 0.96; 95% CI, 0.62-1.50]. Among non-diabetic participants, insulin sensitivity was not associated with colorectal adenoma risk at either prior study visit [lowest vs. highest insulin sensitivity, similar to 10 yr prior to colonoscopy ORadj 0.93; 95% CI 0.50-1.71 and similar to 5 yr prior to colonscopy ORadj 0.74; 95% CI, 0.38-1.46]. These results suggest that factors other than insulin sensitivity mediate the relationship between obesity and colorectal neoplasia.