Lifestyle and lower urinary tract symptoms: what is the correlation in men?
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current evidence linking lifestyle factors and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and their relevance in men. An extensive literature search from January 2013 to August 2014 was conducted, reviewed, and summarized in conjunction with key prior evidence.


RESULTS
The main findings from this review include 1) epidemiological data repeatedly show a favorable relationship between a healthy eating habits and regular physical activity level and a lower risk for LUTS or progression of LUTS, 2) certain specific nutrients or dietary factors may contribute to the link between diet and LUTS because of their anti-inflammatory potential, and 3) very little research has been conducted to test the epidemiological findings in randomized controlled trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Rigorously designed clinical trials are needed to confirm the association between lifestyle factors and LUTS and the effect of lifestyle modification on the development or progression of LUTS. Nevertheless, a healthy lifestyle is known to closely relate with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Thus, promoting a healthy lifestyle with good quality diet and regular physical activity is beneficial not only for potentially improving or reducing LUTS but also for cardiovascular and overall health. Clinicians are encouraged to include healthy lifestyle counseling in their routine care for patients with LUTS.
aDepartment of Medicine bUrology Section, Department of Surgery, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Duke Prostate Center, Division of Urology, Departments of Surgery and Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Pao-Hwa
PH
Lin
Stephen J
SJ
Freedland
D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors