Height/Weight in Early Adulthood and Risk of Prostate Cancer
Posted: Monday, May 11, 2020
New data from 15 cohort studies within the international consortium known as The Pooling Project of Prospective Studies of Diet and Cancer suggest that height as well as total and central adiposity in mid-to-later adulthood—but not in early adulthood—may be associated with a risk of advanced prostate cancer. The research was conducted by Jeanine M. Genkinger, PhD, of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, and colleagues and published in the Annals of Oncology.
“These study results show that risk for advanced prostate cancer can be decreased by maintaining a ‘healthy’ weight, which is in line with guidelines by the American Cancer Society and World Cancer Research Fund,” shared Dr. Genkinger in a Columbia press release.
Researchers examined the associations among body fat, height, and prostate cancer risk from a total of 830,772 men. Of these men, 51,732 incidents of prostate cancer were identified.
There were no significant associations found for body mass index (BMI) in early adulthood for advanced, advanced restricted, high-grade prostate cancer, and prostate cancer mortality. Positive associations were shown for a BMI at baseline with advanced prostate cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.30) and prostate cancer mortality (HR = 1.52) comparing BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 with 21 to 22.9 kg/m2.
A 27% higher prostate cancer mortality risk was observed with a BMI of < 25 kg/m2 in early adulthood and a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 at baseline compared with a BMI < 25 kg/m2 in early adulthood and a BMI < 30 kg/m2 at baseline. Baseline waist circumference, comparing ≥ 110 cm with < 90 cm, and waist-to-hip ratio, comparing ≥ 1.00 with < 0.90, was associated with a significant increase (14%–16%) in high-grade prostate cancer risk, and was suggestive of an increase (20%–39%) in prostate cancer mortality risk. Height was associated with a risk (33%–56%) of advanced or advanced restricted prostate cancer and prostate cancer mortality when comparing ≥ 1.90 m with < 1.65 m.
Disclosure: The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
