Prostate disorders in an apparently normal Nigerian population 2: Relationship with some biochemical parameters

Globally, prostate disorders constitute a lot of health concern for men. Early identification of risk factors and groups at risk minimizes the adverse effects of these disorders. The possible relationship between prostate disorders and parameters like age, blood group, Rhesus factor, haemoglobin genotype, serum total cholesterol level and fasting blood glucose concentration, in Nsukka was studied. A total of 101 apparently normal subjects who were not on prescription drugs and who did not have sex or prostatic massage at least two days before sampling were recruited for assays. Standard procedures were used for all the assays. There was no significant mean difference in the Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) means of the different groups, per parameter, (p>0.05), except for age where a significant mean difference (p<0.05) was noticed between those aged 40-49 and 70+. PAP levels correlated positively with PSA (r = 0.670, p<0.01), age (r = 0.271, p<0.01). It also correlated positively with serum total cholesterol (r = 0.528, p<0.05) in subjects older than 69 years only. No correlation was noticed between PAP and the other parameters measured (p>0.05 in each case). Age and serum total cholesterol (in those older than 69 years only) but not the other parameters, may predispose to prostate disorders.