Enlarged Prostate Linked to Metabolic Syndrome

Men with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) are more likely to have metabolic syndrome (MetS), according to Italian researchers.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 8 studies that enrolled a total of 5,403 patients, Mauro Gacci, MD, of the University of Florence Careggi Hospital, and colleagues identified 1,426 patients (26.4%) who had MetS as defined by current classifcation.

These patients had a significantly higher total prostate volume compared with patients who did not have MetS, the researchers reported online ahead of print in BJU International. Differences in total prostate volume were significantly higher in older men and those who were obese and had low high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol.

Patients with and without MetS had no significant differences in International Prostate Symptom Score or lower urinary tract symptom scores.

“Our results underline the exacerbating role of MetS-induced metabolic derangements in the development of BPE,” the authors noted.

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