Mayo clinic finds aspirin, other NSAIDs, may prevent or delay enlarged prostate

http://www.eurekalert.org/

Public release date: 30-Aug-2006

Contact: Lisa Lucier
newsbureau@xxxxxxxx
507-284-5005
Mayo Clinic
Mayo clinic finds aspirin, other NSAIDs, may prevent or delay enlarged
prostate

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Mayo Clinic researchers have found that taking
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or
ibuprofen may prevent or delay benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlarged
prostate which can cause urinary symptoms in men as they age such as
frequent urination, trouble starting urination, awakening frequently at
night to urinate, weak urine stream and an urgent need to urinate.
Details will be published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
"This study suggests that men's urinary health may be improved by taking
NSAIDs," says Michael Lieber, M.D., Mayo Clinic urologist and study
investigator. He and colleagues found the risk of developing an enlarged
prostate was 50 percent lower in NSAID users compared to non-users, and
risk of developing moderate to severe urinary symptoms was 35 percent
lower, he says.
Jenny St. Sauver, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic epidemiologist and lead study
investigator, says, "The association between intake of NSAIDs and the
reduction of benign prostatic hyperplasia is strengthened by the
consistency and magnitude of our findings. We would not recommend that
every man go out and take aspirin, but if they are already taking it
regularly for other reasons, our findings suggest another benefit as
well."
Benign prostatic hyperplasia increases as men age, affecting one in four
men ages 40 to 50 and almost half of 70- to 80-year-old men. The
condition is most often diagnosed when men visit their physicians due to
urinary problems that are prompted by the prostate enlargement this
condition produces.
"The typical scenario with benign prostatic hyperplasia is that men
start getting up three to five times a night to urinate, and their wives
ultimately force them to go see a urologist," says Dr. Lieber. "Men also
might come in if they have problems with daytime urinary frequency. All
this adversely affects men's quality of life."
According to Dr. Lieber, middle-aged people commonly take an NSAID in
over-the-counter or prescription form to prevent heart disease or reduce
arthritis symptoms.
"Our study suggests that one potential unintended consequence of so many
people in our society taking NSAIDs could be an improvement in urinary
health for men," he says. "So, if a person's primary care doctor
recommends NSAIDs for some other reason, prostate health might be an
additional benefit. However, I would not recommend taking daily NSAIDs
based on this study alone, due to the potential side effects such as
stomach ulcers."
NSAID dosage did not seem to affect the reduction of urinary symptoms.
Only a small number of men in the study took low-dose aspirin, but even
those seemed to be at decreased risk of urinary symptoms, according to
Dr. St. Sauver. The type of NSAID also seemed inconsequential to the
result. The majority of men studied -- 80 percent -- were taking
aspirin, but those taking nonaspirin NSAIDs also experienced a risk
reduction for benign prostatic hyperplasia and its urinary symptoms
compared to non-NSAID users.
How NSAIDs may affect benign prostatic hyperplasia and its urinary
symptoms is not known, according to Dr. Lieber. Theories, according to
Dr. St. Sauver, include: 1) NSAIDs reduce prostate growth directly or by
increasing cell death in the prostate, or 2) NSAIDs reduce inflammation
in the genitourinary tract, the group of organs, including the prostate,
involved in sexual reproduction and urination.
Several studies reporting a decreased risk of prostate cancer for men
who took NSAIDs prompted the Mayo Clinic researchers' interest in
testing the impact of NSAID intake on benign prostate hyperplasia. Dr.
St. Sauver and colleagues studied 2,447 Caucasian men randomly selected
in Olmsted County, home of Mayo Clinic. Participants completed
questionnaires biennially from 1990 to 2002, including information on
daily NSAID use. A random subgroup also participated in a medical
evaluation that included PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level
assessment and transrectal ultrasound, in which a small probe is
inserted into the rectum to obtain images of the prostate gland.
One-third of the men studied were taking daily NSAIDs when they enrolled
in the study.
The Mayo Clinic researchers indicate that the results of their study
need replication in further studies. If these results are consistent in
other populations, further studies also should investigate the best
dosage of NSAIDs to reduce the development of benign prostatic
hyperplasia, says Dr. St. Sauver.

###
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