Association between serum prostate-specific antigen level, liver function tests and lipid profile in healthy men

To assess the association between serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and age, liver function tests (LFTs) including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), lipid profile (total cholesterol, TC, triglycerides, TG, high-density lipoprotein, HDL) and fasting blood sugar (FBS), and to determine the significant factors for predicting the serum PSA level in men with a low risk of having prostate cancer.

In all, 38 157 healthy male employees of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) who were aged <60 years and had serum PSA levels of <4 ng/mL and serum creatinine levels of <1.4 mg/dL were enrolled between January 2002 and December 2006. Body weight and height were measured, and levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ALP, TB, FBS, TC, TG, and HDL, and serum PSA were measured.

The mean (sd) age of the study population was 44.4 (7.90) years and the mean PSA level 0.89 (0.51) ng/mL. In a univariate analysis there were significant interrelations between serum PSA level and age, BMI, AST, ALT, ALP, TB, HDL and FBS (P < 0.05). The multiple logistic regression analyses using four percentiles (10th, 25th, 75th, 90th percentile) of serum PSA level showed trends that being older was associated with serum PSA level, and that BMI, ALT, HDL and FBS were negatively correlated with serum PSA level.

These results suggest that serum PSA level was significantly influenced by age, BMI, ALT, HDL and FBS. Further studies are needed to confirm our results and to explain the underlying mechanisms.