ABSTRACT

Majority of the studies on the relationship of body mass index, prostate specific antigen, prostate volume and
international prostate symptoms score IPSS) in the medical literature were conducted in symptomatic subjects. Our
objective was to investigate the relationship between these variables in apparently normal Nigerian population. This
was a prospective cross-sectional study of adult male subjects, forty years and above with no prior history of lower
urinary tract symptoms or history suggestive of prostatic disease or surgery who presented voluntarily for screening
during a public enlightenment lecture on prostate disease. Digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, Body mass index,
prostate specific antigen prostate volume and international prostate symptoms score were determined. Subjects with
suspicious findings on DRE or PSA of more than 10ng/ml were excluded from the analysis. P value less than 0.05 was
considered statistically significant on statistical analysis. The age distribution of the participants was 41 -66years with a
mean of 50+/4.9sd. Majority of them were in the 4th decade of life. The body mass index of the majority of the studied
group showed a range of 18.5-24.9 (n=43s, 66.1%). The mean total prostate specific antigen [PSA] of the participants
was 1.98+/1.21sd with a range of 0.00-8ng/ml.. All the participants had an IPSS of 0-7. Correlation analysis among
variables revealed only statically significant correlation between BMI & prostate volume and IPSS &quality of life
There was significant relationship only between body mass index and prostate volume & IPSS and quality of life index.
Weight reduction in an obese individual may slow than prostate enlargement and the possibility of reduction in the
severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (IPSS)