TESTOSTERONE AND SERUM ZINC LEVELS IN MEN WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Endocrinology
• Andrology

Background:

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition in aging men, characterized by prostate enlargement.
• The relationship between hormonal levels, specifically testosterone, and zinc status in the context of BPH requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum zinc and testosterone levels in patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• To compare these levels between BPH patients and a control group of healthy males in Iraq.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 90 male subjects: 60 with BPH (prostate volume ≥ 25 ml) and 30 healthy controls.
• Serum samples were collected to measure zinc and testosterone concentrations in both groups.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare prostate size, serum zinc, and serum testosterone between the BPH and control groups.

Main Results:

• BPH patients exhibited significantly larger prostate volumes (54.0±8.4cc) compared to controls (19.66±2.88cc).
• Serum testosterone levels were significantly lower in BPH patients (4.05±3.1 ng/ml) than in controls (11.37±2.87 ng/ml).
• Serum zinc concentrations were also significantly reduced in BPH patients (70.4±9.63 ng/ml) compared to controls (99.3±10.5 ng/ml).

Conclusions:

• Serum testosterone and zinc levels are significantly lower in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia compared to age-matched healthy individuals.
• Lower levels of testosterone and zinc are observed across all Body Mass Index (BMI) groups in BPH patients relative to controls.
• The findings suggest a potential role for zinc and testosterone in the pathophysiology or progression of BPH.