In a new study entitled “Hormone concentration, metabolic disorders and immunoexpression of androgen and estrogen-alpha receptors in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia and testosterone deficiency syndrome” researchers investigated the occurrence of hormonal and metabolic disorders in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia who are also affected by testosterone deficiency syndrome. The study was published in the Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica journal.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and occurs often in elderly men. It is characterized by frequent urination (micturition), difficulties in initiating micturition, excessive urination at night (nycturia), poor stream of urine and a prolonged duration of micturition. BPH is the most common prostate problem for men older than 50 years of age, affecting approximately 50% of men with 51 to 60 years and up to 90% of men older than 80 years.

In this study, researchers determined whether men with BPH have hormone and metabolic disorders, including testosterone deficiency syndrome (a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone testosterone), a still controversial issue among the scientific and medical community. To this end, they studied 150 men diagnosed with BPH who were following pharmacological treatment for their condition. The team measured a series of metabolic and hormonal parameters in patients’ blood to assess their metabolic and hormonal profiles.

The results demonstrated that testosterone deficiency syndrome is common in men with BPH and that depending on the testosterone levels, BPH men exhibit different levels of metabolic disorders. Patients with BPH and testosterone deficiency were more likely to exhibit increased abdominal circumference and higher serum levels of both insulin and IGF-1. Additionally, they detected increased levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL (low-density lipoprotein, often denoted as bad cholesterol) along with increased heart diastolic blood pressure in BPH patients with testosterone deficiency.

The authors highlight these findings imply that visceral obesity and metabolic disorders can contribute to lower testosterone levels. Further studies on the relationship between BPH and testosterone levels, and how this affects the levels of other hormones and metabolites will allow a deeper understanding and potential therapeutic interventions for age-related disorders in men.