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Insulin and free oestradiol are independent risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 12, pages 160–165 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

The aetiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to test the insulin, oestradiol and metabolic syndrome hypotheses as promoters of BPH. The design was a risk factor analysis of BPH in which the total prostate gland volume was related to endocrine and anthropometric factors. The participants studied were 184 representative men, aged 72–76 years, residing in Göteborg, Sweden. Using a multivariate analysis, BPH as measured by the total prostate gland volume correlated statistically significantly with fasting serum insulin (β=0.200, P=0.028), free oestradiol (β=0.233, P=0.008) and lean body mass (β=0.257, P=0.034). Insulin and free oestradiol appear to be independent risk factors for BPH, confirming both the insulin and the oestradiol hypotheses. Our findings also seem to confirm the metabolic syndrome hypothesis. The metabolic syndrome and its major endocrine aberration, hyperinsulinaemia, are possible primary events in BPH.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by an unconditional grant from Sanofi-Aventis, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, the ALFA/LUA research grant in Gothenburg, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wilhelm and Martina Lundgrens Forskningsfond and Alice Swenzons Stiftelse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Skaraborg Hospital, Skövde, Sweden

    J Hammarsten

  2. Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden

    J-E Damber, T Knutson & R Peeker

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö General Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

    M Karlsson

  4. Department of Orthopedics, Malmö General Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden

    M Karlsson

  5. Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Ö Ljunggren

  6. Department of Internal Medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Center for Bone Research, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden

    C Ohlsson & D Mellström

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, The Lundberg Laboratory for Diabetes Research, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden

    U Smith

  8. Department of Geriatrics at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Center for Bone Research, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden

    D Mellström

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  1. J Hammarsten
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Correspondence to J Hammarsten.

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Hammarsten, J., Damber, JE., Karlsson, M. et al. Insulin and free oestradiol are independent risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 12, 160–165 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2008.50

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2008.50

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