Body fat distribution and prostate cancer mortality

[Graham49]

Body fat distribution on computed tomography imaging and prostate cancer risk and mortality in the AGES‐Reykjavik study

Barbra A. Dickerman PhD Johanna E. Torfadottir PhD Unnur A. Valdimarsdottir PhD Edward Giovannucci MD, ScD Kathryn M. Wilson ScD Thor Aspelund PhD … See all authors

First published: 10 June 2019

doi.org/10.1002/cncr.32167

Cited by: 2

See editorial on pages 2730‐1, this issue.

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Abstract

Background

The World Cancer Research Fund classifies as “strong evidence” the link between obesity and the risk of advanced prostate cancer. In light of the different hormonal profiles associated with where adipose is stored, this study investigated the role of objectively measured body fat distribution and the risk of clinically relevant prostate cancer.

Methods

This was a prospective study of 1832 men in the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik study. From 2002 to 2006, participants underwent baseline computed tomography imaging of fat deposition, bioelectric impedance analysis, and measurement of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Men were followed through linkage with nationwide cancer registries for the incidence of total (n = 172), high‐grade (Gleason grade ≥8; n = 43), advanced (≥cT3b/N1/M1 at diagnosis or fatal prostate cancer over follow‐up; n = 41), and fatal prostate cancer (n = 31) through 2015. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association between adiposity measures and prostate cancer outcomes.

Results

Among all men, visceral fat (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31 per 1–standard deviation [SD] increase; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00‐1.72) and thigh subcutaneous fat (HR, 1.37 per 1‐SD increase; 95% CI, 1.00‐1.88) were associated with risk of advanced and fatal disease, respectively. Among men who were leaner based on BMI, visceral fat was associated with both advanced and fatal disease. BMI and waist circumference were associated with a higher risk of advanced and fatal disease. No adiposity measures were associated with total or high‐grade disease.

Conclusions

Specific fat depots as well as BMI and waist circumference were associated with the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, which may help to elucidate underlying mechanisms and target intervention strategies.

[LearnAll]

High Waist circumference (belly fat) is a risk factor for Heart disease and Diabetes. The hip circumference should be either equal or higher than belly circumference. If belly circumference is higher than hip...person has what is called Metabolic Syndrome which leads to Heart disease and Diabetes and now, high grade prostate cancer.

Friends...lets reduce our fat intake and increase our physical activity to achieve a BMI of 22.

[Graham49 in reply to LearnAll]

Unfortunately BMI is not always an adequate measure of visceral fat due to some people being TOFI.

TOFI (thin-outside-fat-inside) is used to describe lean individuals with a disproportionate amount of fat (adipose tissue) stored in their abdomen. Subjects defined as TOFI have a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and type II diabetes due to reduced insulin sensitivity and a more atherogenic lipid profile. Overconsumption of fructose can lead to TOFI by inducing inflammation associated cortisol release. Among other things, visceral fat messes with your hormones. It lowers testosterone and raises estradiol. It churns out inflammatory chemicals called cytokines, which can raise your blood pressure, affect blood clotting, and raise your risk of heart disease and stroke. Visceral fat also sheds fatty acids, which go right to the liver. These fatty acids lower your good cholesterol and raise your bad cholesterol.

Summarised from Wikipedia and Prostate Cancer Foundation websites

[j-o-h-n]

Stressed spelled backwards is desserts.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 09/29/2019 1:41 AM DST

[Currumpaw in reply to j-o-h-n]

Well j-o-h-n!

Reminds me of the days when I could indulge in something like that. A rare treat for me now, maybe 3X a year, is a cashew based dark chocolate "ice cream". Not bad at all and the chocolate kind of balances out the sugars--sort of--I hope.

Currumpaw

[j-o-h-n in reply to Currumpaw]

Well Mr. Currumpaw.... as the saying goes "hope springs eternal ".....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 09/29/2019 2:26 PM DST

[Hidden]

Thanks for the post. This is a big slap in the face for doctors who say "Eat whatever you like!". Alas, that is most of them!

The actual mechanism seems to be the production of "bad" estrogen by this fat, and that becomes food for prostate cancer cells. There needs to be some work done to see what "cancer food" proportion this "bad" estrogen is compared with testosterone, "real" estrogens (known to be OK), and pseudo-estrogens from the environment (known to be bad). I suspect that Testosterone has got a "bad rap" for being the main culprit, when the real villain is this viceral fat (of which most prostate victims have a good supply). If Testosterone turns out to be innocent, the whole ADT scene would need a shake-up and we can get back our manhood and immune systems!

[Grumpyswife]

My husband is and has always been thin as a rail and is on his 19th year of diagnosed pCa.

[Hidden in reply to Grumpyswife]

That fact and the fact he has your love are why he is still here . God bless .

[j-o-h-n in reply to Grumpyswife]

He may be thin as a rail.....but I'm as fat as a locomotive.... 19 Years? Figures since there's no room in him for those little F-ing buggers. to hide.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 09/30/2019 11:33 PM DST