The impact of obesity towards prostate diseases

Abstract

Evidence has supported obesity as a risk factor for both benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). Obesity causes several mechanisms including increased intra-abdominal pressure, altered endocrine status, increased sympathetic nervous activity, increased inflammation process, and oxidative stress, all of which are favorable in the development of BPH. In PCa, there are several different mechanisms, such as decreased serum testosterone, peripheral aromatization of androgens, insulin resistance, and altered adipokine secretion caused by inflammation, which may precipitate the development of and even cause high-grade PCa. The role of obesity in prostatitis still remains unclear. A greater understanding of the pathogenesis of prostate disease and adiposity could allow the development of new therapeutic markers, prognostic indicators, and drug targets. This review was made to help better understanding of the association between central obesity and prostate diseases, such as prostatitis, BPH, and PCa.

Obesity and metabolic dysfunction severely influence prostate cell function: role of insulin and IGF1

“…Remarkably, these results are in partial agreement with a previous report showing a role of insulin and IGF1 in the modulation of some of these tumoral parameters , in particular a consistent stimulatory effect of IGF1 and insulin on cell proliferation in several prostate cancer cell lines . Therefore, these results, together with other studies reporting a clear association of the risk of prostate cancer with IGF1 levels, insulin levels and/or insulin resistance , reinforce the importance of these two hormones in the pathophysiology of the PG and suggest their putative utility in the prognosis and/or treatment of prostate cancer. In addition, from a clinical point of view, as metformin, an antidiabetic drug associated with a reduction in PCa risk , has been shown to reduce insulin levels and insulin resistance, the results presented herein could invite to suggest that one of the putative mechanisms that might help to explain the beneficial actions of metformin on PCa development and progression might be the reduction in insulin resistance at the PG level.…”

“…Interestingly, obesity courses with the dysfunction of key regulatory systems, including GH, insulin and IGF1 axes, which are crucial for the correct development and maintenance of several organs , including the PG. Nonetheless, although obesity‐associated alterations in GH , insulin and IGF1 levels, together with the concomitant insulin resistance , have been shown to impact the function of several metabolic organs, are thought to be involved in the increased obesity‐associated cancer risk and can negatively affect testosterone levels , the actual influence of obesity and the concurrent changes in insulin and IGF1 levels in the physiology of normal and tumoral prostate is still to be elucidated.…”

Prevalence and heritability of benign prostatic hyperplasia and LUTS in men aged 40 years or older in Zhengzhou rural areas

“…A study based on an Iranian population showed that obesity and diabetes were risk factors for BPH, but smoking, physical activity and hypertension were not . Studies have suggested that obesity is a risk factor for BPH . A prospective study reported that a higher BMI results in a lower risk of BPH, in contrast to another prospective study suggesting that central obesity was an independent risk factor for BPH .…”

Green Tea and Its Extracts in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

“…An increased risk for prostatic cancer correlates with reduced physical activity [183], high BMI [184,185] and diabetes mellitus [186]; farming has been published as a risk factor (although pesticide use is reported as protective; [187]), and lycopene from tomatoes [181,188], catechins, isoflavons and curcumin [7] are probably protective.…”