Effects of running distance and performance on incident benign prostatic hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is generally not considered a preventable condition. Our goal is to assess whether running (a vigorous physical activity) and 10-km race performance (an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness) reduce BPH risk.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study of incident BPH in 28,612 nonsmoking, nonvegetarian, nondiabetic men.


RESULTS
The 1899 men (6.64%) reported physician-diagnosed incident BPH during (mean +/- SD) 7.74 +/- 1.84 yr of follow-up. Survival analyses showed significantly lower risk with both longer distance run (km x wk(-1); P < 0.0001) and faster 10-km performance (m x s(-1); P = 0.0004) independent of age, BMI, and meat, fish, fruit, and alcohol intake. When adjusted for age, the fastest men (> or =4.0 m x s(-1)) had 32% lower risk than the slowest men (<3 m x s(-1); P = 0.0006). The decline in incidence extended throughout the performance range, with even the fastest category (> or =4 m x s(-1)) having significantly lower risk than the penultimate fastest category (3.5-4.0 m x s(-1); P = 0.03). The decline in BPH risk with running distance was independent of performance. BPH incidence was more strongly related to the average of the baseline and the follow-up distance run than to concurrent changes in running distance between baseline and follow-up. Incident BPH was significantly lower in men who ran >16 than <16 km x wk(-1) (P = 0.05), >32 than 16-32 km x wk(-1) (P = 0.02), and >48 than 32-48 km x wk(-1) (P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Greater distances run per week may reduce BPH risk independent of BMI, 10-km performance, and diet. If the relationship is causal, then this health benefit accrues at greater exercise doses and intensities than the minimum guideline levels currently recommended.
Williams
Paul T
PT
Donner Laboratory, Life Sciences Division, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. ptwilliams@lbl.gov
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012420:Running
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