Metabolic syndrome and the risk of prostate cancer in Finnish men: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
Individual components of metabolic syndrome have been linked to an increased risk for prostate cancers. We hypothesized that metabolic syndrome itself could confer an increased risk for incident prostate cancer.


METHODS
The participants were a population-based sample of 1,880 men from eastern Finland without history of cancer or diabetes mellitus at baseline.


RESULTS
The metabolic syndrome (WHO criteria) was present in 357 (19%) of subjects. During an average follow-up of 13 years, a total of 183 cancers occurred, of which 56 were due to prostate cancer. The metabolic syndrome at baseline was related to a 1.9-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.5) risk of prostate cancer after adjustment for age, alcohol consumption, physical fitness, and energy, fat, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, and alpha-linolenic acid intake. The association between metabolic syndrome and risk of prostate cancer was stronger among overweight and obese men with a body mass index > or = 27 kg/m2 (adjusted relative risk, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-7.3) than in lighter men (relative risk, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-4.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Middle-aged men with the metabolic syndrome were more likely to develop prostate cancer in this prospective population-based study. This finding suggests that efforts to curb the epidemic of overweight and sedentary lifestyle and the accompanying metabolic syndrome may decrease the risk for prostate cancer.
Laukkanen
Jari A
JA
Research Institute of Public Health, University of Kuopio, PO Box 1627, 70211, Finland. jariantero.laukkanen@uku.fi
Laaksonen
David E
DE
Niskanen
Leo
L
Pukkala
Eero
E
Hakkarainen
Anna
A
Salonen
Jukka T
JT
D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors