Research advances on the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of prostatic diseases / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver disorder related to metabolic syndrome, which is considered to be associated with risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). It has been reported that NAFLD may serve as an independent predictive factor for BPH and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). In addition, NAFLD may also contribute to identify the high risk population of PCa, and to predict biochemical recurrence and progression of PCa. The roles of NAFLD in BPH and PCa may be related to insulin resistance and metabolic abnormality that cause aberrant and malignant proliferation in the prostatic gland. Besides, chronic systemic inflammation and Toll-like receptor-associated immunization may also involve in the development of NAFLD-mediated BPH. This article reviews the current research evidence on the role of NAFLD in the development of BPH and PCa, indicating that early intervention of NAFLD may alleviate the progression of BPH and PCa.