Aging-related prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), affects millions of men worldwide, often leading to urinary difficulties and reduced quality of life. While aging and hormonal changes are well-established risk factors, a new study published in Aging (Aging-US) suggests that inflammation and poor metabolic health may also play a critical role in BPH development and progression.
Researchers from Pomeranian Medical University analyzed blood samples from 219 men, including 144 with BPH and 75 without, to assess inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Their analysis revealed that men with BPH exhibited elevated levels of pro-inflammatory molecules, such as 12S-HETE and 5-HETE, while showing lower levels of anti-inflammatory compounds like lipoxin A4. The imbalance was even more pronounced in men with both BPH and metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that includes obesity, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol—suggesting a strong connection between metabolic dysfunction and prostate enlargement.
These findings highlight the potential role of chronic inflammation and metabolic health in BPH development. As metabolic syndrome becomes more prevalent, its association with worsening prostate conditions raises concerns for aging men. The study suggests that monitoring metabolic health and inflammation levels could help identify individuals at higher risk for BPH.
Further investigations could assess whether interventions like diet, exercise, and anti-inflammatory strategies might help manage BPH and its progression. Understanding this link could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies, offering hope for better management of prostate enlargement in aging men.
Ratajczak et al. 2025 . “The Profile of Oxidative Stress Markers (Arachidonic and Linoleic Acid Derivatives) in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Relation to Metabolic Syndrome.” Aging, January. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206187.