April 2013
Whilst metabolic syndrome is known to be directly associated with a number of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes there is now growing evidence of its influence on the initiation and clinical progression of prostatic diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). A recent review of the scientific literature evaluated studies providing evidence of the role of metabolic syndrome in the development and progression of BPH and PCa. In this evaluation the authors considered relevant articles published between 1995 and September 2011 that were identified using one of the main scientific citation databases – PubMed.
The Correlation Between Metabolic Syndrome and Prostatic Diseases. De Nunzio C, Aronson W, Freedland SJ, Giovannucci E. Eur Urology 2012;61:560-570.
PCa and BPH, both chronic diseases with slow progression, are significant health concerns and become more common in older men.
PCa is the leading cause of non-skin cancer among men worldwide and in the USA it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths (after lung cancer).
Symptomatic BPH represents the most common urologic disease among elderly males, affecting about one-quarter of men in their 50’s, one-third of men in their 60’s, and about half of 80 year olds.
Metabolic syndrome is a complex, very common disorder and considered a worldwide epidemic. It is already known to be directly associated with an increase in the risk of coronary artery disease, cardiovascular atherosclerotic diseases and type 2 diabetes.
The main components of metabolic syndrome are:
In most cases, metabolic syndrome develops as a result of poor eating habits and/or inactive lifestyles, which are associated with insulin resistance and obesity.