The effect of obesity and lower serum PSA levels on prostate-cancer screening
July 20th, 2009 Posted in prostate cancer diagnosisA study at University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. has targeted to determine if lower serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in obese American men affect prostate-cancer screening results. The researchers were interested about the subject as an increased body mass index (BMI) is inversely associated with PSA level, but the effect of this association on PSA screening results for prostate cancer is unknown.
The study conclusion revealed that only obese white non-Hispanic men are about half as likely as those with a normal BMI to have a PSA level of >/=4.0 ng/mL. These results might affect prostate-cancer screening with serum total PSA. Further studies are needed to better define the association of BMI and PSA in racial minority subgroups.