Abstract

Objective: Epidemiologic studies revealed that high serum insulin levels were related to increased benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). In the present study we 

evaluated the relationship between obesity which is an indicator for high serum insulin levels and BPH.

Materials and methods: A total of 117 male patients, 82 patients with clinical BPH and 35 healthy controls, were included in the study. The two groups were compared regarding age, prostate volume, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and serum insulin levels.

Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of mean age and BMI. In the BPH group the mean prostate volume, WHR and serum insulin levels were significantly higher than control group (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between serum insulin levels and WHR (r=0.21, p<0.05). 

Conclusions: Our results suggest that there was a significant relation between clinical BPHand high WHR (abdominal obesity) and serum insulin levels. Novel studies are needed to confirm these results and to identify the underlying mechanisms.