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(Ivanhoe News wire) Being overweight can have an impact on the results of a common test for prostate cancer. A measurement of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is often the way prostate cancer is diagnosed. A high level of PSA indicates cancer. But obese men have lower PSA levels and new research says its because the large volumes of plasma associated with being overweight.
Several theories have been presented about why obese men have lower PSA levels. Researchers from the U.S. and Canada examined a large cohort of men with prostate cancer and looked at the relation between body-mass index (BMI), PSA measurements, and plasma volume. They included more than 13,700 men from a 16 year time period.
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Study authors say men with a BMI of 35 or greater had 21 percent to 23 percent larger plasma volumes compared to normal weight men. Men in the most obese group had 11 percent to 21 percent lower PSA concentrations than normal weight men. Researchers then try to determined why obese men make less PSA. Their findings suggest that the lower PSA measurements in obese men were the result of diluting effect of larger plasma volumes. They also say it may have to do with hormone production.
More research needs to focus on obese men and prostate cancer, according to the study authors. They speculate that obese men may not be undergoing biopsies as often and their cancer may be caught later, which could lead to worse outcomes. Study authors say these are areas that need to be focused on for future studies.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, 2007;98:2275-2280
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
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