Body Mass Index In Men Research Articles

Effects of finasteride on serum testosterone and body mass index in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Objectives To examine the effect of finasteride on serum testosterone in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods The Proscar Long-Term Efficacy and Safety Study (PLESS) was a 4-year trial comparing the safety and efficacy of finasteride 5 mg with placebo in 3040 men with moderate to severe symptomatic BPH and enlarged prostates. PLESS included the prospective measurement of annual serum testosterone in a randomly selected subset of patients comprising approximately 10% of the randomized population (n = 301). Results Finasteride treatment led to a modest, but significant ( P <0.001), increase relative to placebo in serum testosterone, with this increase greatest in patients who had low baseline testosterone levels. The larger testosterone increases seen in finasteride-treated patients in the lower baseline testosterone tertiles were associated with significant mean reductions relative to placebo at year 4 in body mass index (BMI), ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 kg/m 2. No statistically significant between-group difference was found in BMI in the upper testosterone tertile. The sexual adverse experience profiles for finasteride and placebo were similar across the baseline testosterone cohorts examined. Conclusions Finasteride treatment led to a generally modest increase relative to placebo in serum testosterone, with the greatest increases occurring in men with low baseline testosterone levels. The physiologic significance of these changes in men with low baseline testosterone levels is unclear, but the associated reduction in BMI is intriguing and may be related, because BMI is known to be negatively correlated with serum testosterone levels in men.

VLDL-triglyceride (TG) secretion is directly related to body mass index in men but not in women

VLDL-triglyceride (TG) secretion is directly related to body mass index in men but not in women

Determinants of incident vertebral fracture in men and women: results from the European Prospective Osteoporosis Study (EPOS).

The aim of this analysis was to determine the influence of lifestyle, anthropometric and reproductive factors on the subsequent risk of incident vertebral fracture in men and women aged 50-79 years. Subjects were recruited from population registers from 28 centers across Europe. At baseline, they completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and had lateral thoraco-lumbar spine radiographs performed. Repeat spinal radiographs were performed a mean of 3.8 years later. Incident vertebral fractures were defined morphometrically and also qualitatively by an experienced radiologist. Poisson regression was used to determine the influence of the baseline risk factor variables on the occurrence of incident vertebral fracture. A total of 3173 men (mean age 63.1 years) and 3402 women (mean age 62.2 years) contributed data to the analysis. In total there were 193 incident morphometric and 224 qualitative fractures. In women, an age at menarche 16 years or older was associated with an increased risk of vertebral fracture (RR = 1.80; 95%CI 1.24, 2.63), whilst use of hormonal replacement was protective (RR = 0.58; 95%CI 0.34, 0.99). None of the lifestyle factors studied including smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity or milk consumption showed any consistent associations with incident vertebral fracture. In men and women, increasing body weight and body mass index were associated with a reduced risk of vertebral fracture though, apart from body mass index in men, the confidence intervals embraced unity. For most variables the strengths of the associations observed were similar using the qualitative and morphometric approaches to fracture definition. In conclusion our data suggest that modification of other lifestyle risk factors is unlikely to have a major impact on the population occurrence of vertebral fractures. The important biological mechanisms underlying vertebral fracture risk need to be explored using new investigational strategies.

Therapeutic effects of psyllium in type 2 diabetic patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of psyllium in type 2 diabetic patients. The study included three phases: phase 1 (1 week), phase 2 (treatment, 14 g fibre/day, 6 weeks) and phase 3 (4 weeks). At the end of each phase a clinical evaluation was performed after the ingestion of a test breakfast of 1824.2 kJ (436 kcal). Measurements included concentrations of blood glucose, insulin, fructosamine, GHbA(1c), C-peptide and 24 h urinary glucose excretion. In addition, uric acid, cholesterol and several mineral and vitamin concentrations were also evaluated. The study was performed at the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Nursing at the University of León (Spain). Twenty type 2 diabetic patients (12 men and 8 women) participated in the study with a mean age of 67.4 y for men and 66 y for women. The mean body mass index of men was 28.2 kg/m(2) and that of women 25.9 kg/m(2). Glucose absorption decreased significantly in the presence of psyllium (12.2%); this reduction is not associated with an important change in insulin levels (5%). GHbA(1c), C-peptide and 24 h urinary glucose excretion decreased (3.8, 14.9 and 22.5%, respectively) during the treatment with fibre (no significant differences) as well as fructosamine (10.9%, significant differences). Psyllium also reduced total and LDL cholesterol (7.7 and 9.2%, respectively, significant differences), and uric acid (10%, significant difference). Minerals and vitamins did not show important changes, except sodium that increased significantly after psyllium administration. The results obtained indicate a beneficial therapeutic effect of psyllium (Plantaben) in the metabolic control of type 2 diabetics as well as in lowering the risk of coronary heart disease. We also conclude that consumption of this fibre does not adversely affect either mineral or vitamin A and E concentrations. Finally, for a greater effectiveness, psyllium treatment should be individually evaluated.

Diagnostic value of CRP and Lp(a) in coronary heart disease

Objectives — Increased lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentration was reported to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent epidemiological studies affirmed the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) as the strongest, univariate predictor of the cardiovascular events.We decided to establish cut-off levels providing maximum diagnostic efficiency for CHD.Methods — In this study we measured CRP and Lp(a) concentrations in patients with angiographically demonstrated CHD (group A, n: 120), patients without any angiographically demonstrable lesion (group B, n: 62) and a group of healthy subjects (group C, n: 41). Data were evaluated correcting for lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, age, and body mass index in men and women. ROC curve based cut-off values (comparing group A versus groups B and C) and associated diagnostic performances of the assays were evaluated.Results — Significant increases were noted in serum CRP concentrations in men and women, in groups A vs. B, A vs. C, B vs. C. Lp(a) concentrations were not different among groups in men but were higher in group A vs. B and C in women. Optimal cut-off levels for CRP in women and men were found as 2.1 and 3.0 mg/l with the diagnostic values of 0.792 and 0.770, respectively. For Lp(a) optimal cut-off levels were found as 22.6 and 9.8 mg/dl with the diagnostic values of 0.612 and 0.596 in women and men, respectively.Conclusion — The CRP level is quite efficient for separation of patients from controls. Therefore keeping in mind the lack of specificity, the CRP level may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. However, the Lp(a) level is not efficient enough to support the use of Lp(a) measurement for management of coronary heart disease.

Associations between Health-Related Behaviors: A 7-Year Follow-up of Adults

Background. The study examines pairwise associations between smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, dietary behavior and body mass index using long-term follow-up data of Finnish adults.Methods. Respondents to large nationwide health behavior surveys conducted in 1989/1990 were recontacted in 1997. First, we examined whether each health behavior predicted other behaviors 7 years later. Second, we examined whether changes in each health behavior were accompanied by changes in other behaviors.Results. Smoking at baseline predicted all other health behaviors except body mass index in men. On the other hand, other behaviors tended to predict smoking. Physical inactivity and unhealthy diet were predictive of each other in men. Those with an unhealthy diet at baseline were less likely to be high alcohol users in the follow-up. Baseline body mass index did not predict any of the other behaviors. Concurrent changes in health behaviors involved either smoking or body mass index. Changes in diet and alcohol use were differently related to changes in body mass index in men than in women.Conclusions. Overall, smoking seemed to play a central role in the associations between health behaviors. Smoking was predictive of most other health behaviors. Concurrent changes in health behaviors related either to smoking or to body weight. The associations between health behaviors were fairly similar for men and women, but the variation in the associations between body mass index and some other health behaviors suggests gender differences in the behavioral response to body weight.

Nutrient intake and body weight in a large HIV cohort that includes women and minorities

Objective Evaluate the baseline nutrient intake of an HIV positive population that includes significant representation from women and minorities, and determine the relationship between state of disease and nutritional intake.Design Baseline data from a prospective study (Nutrition for Healthy Living).Subjects Individuals with HIV in the Boston and Rhode Island area (n=516); 25% were women and 30% were minorities.Methods Nutrient intakes from 3-day food records, which included vitamin/mineral supplements, were estimated by gender and nonwhite vs white categories, after grouping by CD4 lymphocyte counts.Statistical Analyses Spearman correlation coefficients, Wilcoxon signed rank test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, χ2 test, and restricted cubic spline model were used for data analyses as indicated.Results Macronutrient but not micronutrient intake was statistically and inversely associated with decreasing CD4 cell counts. The median intake of micronutrients was higher in the study sample compared with the same age and gender group in NHANES III data; however, 25% to 35% of the women in our study sample had dietary intakes of less than 75% of the DRIs for vitamins A, C, E and B-6, and iron and zinc. White men had statistically higher values of all micronutrients compared with nonwhite men. Body mass index for men and women ranged from 23 to 25.Conclusions/Applications Median values for micronutrient intake from food plus vitamin/mineral supplements were adequate in the overall population studied, but a large percent of women and minorities had inadequate nutrient intakes and would benefit from dietary assessment and counseling. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:203-211.

Comparison of Body Mass Index by self-reported versus measured height and weight.

This study compared differences between self-reported and measured height and weight and subsequent Body Mass Index. College students (N=62) were asked to complete a health questionnaire as accurately as possible. Height and weight were self-reported without the knowledge that these variables would be subsequently measured. Self-reported and measured heights, weights, and calculated Body Mass Indexes were statistically compared. Analysis indicated that measured height was significantly less than self-reported height for men, but weight was not significantly different. Calculated Body Mass Index for men was not significantly different, however, self-reported Body Mass Index resulted in placement in the Normal range (18.5 to 24.9) category and measured Body Mass Index placement in the Overweight category (25.0 to 29.9). Women's self-reported and measured heights were not significantly different; however, self-reported weight was significantly less than measured. Further, significantly different Body Mass Indexes were found for women. It was concluded that self-reported height and weight might be viewed with caution in Body Mass Index assessment for convenience samples of college-age subjects.

COMPAKISON OF BODY MASS INDEX BY SELF-REPORTED VERSUS MEASURED HEIGHT AND WEIGHT

This study compared differences between self-reported and measured height and weight and subsequent Body Mass Index. College students (N = 62) were asked to complete a health questionnaire as accurately as possible. Height and weight were self-reported without the knowledge that these variables would be subsequently measured. Self-reported and measured heights, weights, and calculated Body Mass Indexes were statistically compared. Analysis indicated that measured height was significantly less than self-reported height for men, but weight was not significantly different. Calculated Body Mass Index for men was not significantly different, however, self-reported Body Mass Index resulted in placement in the Normal range (18.5 to 24.9) category and measured Body Mass Index placement in the Overweight category (25.0 to 29.9). Women's self-reported and measured heights were not significantly different, however, self-reported weight was significantly less than measured. Further, significantly different Body Mass Indexes were found for women. It was concluded that self-reported height and weight might be viewed with caution in Body Mass Index assessment for convenience samples of college-age subjects.

Comparison of weight in middle age, weight at 18 years, and weight change between, in predicting subsequent 14 year mortality and coronary events: Caerphilly Prospective Study

OBJECTIVEThe prevalence of obesity is increasing in many European countries and in the United States. This report examines the mortality and morbidity associated with being overweight and obese in the...

Adult changes in body composition are associated with changes in cholesterol levels: the fels longitudinal study

Serial data from 507 adult participants in the Fels Longitudinal Study were used to study relationships between average annual changes in serum cholesterol levels and annual changes in total body fat, fat-free mass, percent body fat or body mass index in men and women aged 18–45 years or 45–65 years. Average annual changes in adiposity before and after 45 years of age for men and women show statistically significant, strong, positive relationships with corresponding changes in cholesterol levels.

Insulin resistance characterizes glucose uptake in skeletal muscle but not in the heart in NIDDM.

Skeletal muscle insulin resistance and coronary heart disease (CHD) often precede non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). A recent study showed the myocardium of patients with CHD to be insulin resistant, independent of blood flow. We determined whether myocardial insulin resistance is a feature of NIDDM patients with no CHD. Skeletal muscle and myocardial glucose uptake were determined in 10 patients with NIDDM and 9 age- and weight-matched normal men of similar age and body mass index men using [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose and positron emission tomography under normoglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic conditions. Whole body glucose uptake, as determined by the euglycaemic clamp technique, was significantly lower in the patients with NIDDM (35+/-3 micromol/kg body weight min) than the normal subjects (45+/-3 micromol/kg body weight x min, p < 0.02). Insulin-stimulated femoral muscle glucose uptake was significantly lower in the patients with NIDDM (71+/-6 micromol/kg muscle x min) than in the normal subjects (96+/-5 micromol/kg muscle x min, p < 0.01). Whole body glucose uptake was correlated with femoral muscle glucose uptake in the entire group (r=0.76, p < 0.001), in patients with NIDDM and in normal subjects. Rates of insulin-stimulated myocardial glucose uptake were comparable between the patients with NIDDM (814+/-76 micromol/kg muscle min) and the normal subjects (731+/-63 micromol/kg muscle min, p > 0.4). Whole body or femoral muscle, and myocardial glucose uptake were not correlated in all subjects, patients with NIDDM or normal subjects. We conclude that insulin resistance of the myocardium is not a feature of uncomplicated NIDDM.

Stable behaviors associated with adults' 10-year change in body mass index and likelihood of gain at the waist.

The purpose of this study was to identify behaviors associated with change in body mass index or with weight gain at the waist. A cohort of 79236 White, non-Hispanic, healthy adults was questioned in 1982 and 1992 about diet and 10 physical activities. Estimates were made of the mean effects of stable behaviors on 10-year change in body mass index and on odds ratios for gain at the waist. Ten-year changes in body mass index was associated positively with meat consumption and smoking cessation and inversely with vegetable consumption, vitamin E supplementation, continued smoking, and some vigorous activities (e.g., jogging/running). Women's body mass index decreased with walking 4 or more hours per week and with regular alcohol intake, but these behaviors had a smaller effect on men's body mass index. weight gain was inversely associated with high vegetable consumption, walking 4 or more hours per week, and jogging/running 1 to 3 hours per week but not with less demanding physical activities. Simple derivation of behaviors associated with weight loss or reduced abdominal obesity may enhance programs designed to prevent obesity and chronic diseases.

Birth weight and adult hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity in US men.

Low birth weight has been associated with several chronic diseases in adults, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Further study of these diseases in a large cohort with information on a wide variety of risk factors is essential to determine more precisely the risks associated with birth weight. We examined the relation between birth weight and cumulative incidence of adult hypertension, incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and prevalence of obesity in a cohort of 22,846 US men (Health Professionals Follow-up Study). Birth weights, medical histories, family histories, and other factors were collected by biennial mailed questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between birth weight and these chronic adult diseases. Low birth weight was associated with an increased risk of hypertension and diabetes; high birth weight was associated with an increased risk of obesity. Compared with men in the referent birth weight category (7.0 to 8.4 lb), men who weighed < 5.5 lb had an age-adjusted odds ratio for hypertension of 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 1.44) and for diabetes mellitus of 1.75 (95% CI, 1.21 to 2.54). There was no material change after controlling for adult body mass index and parental histories of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Compared with men in the referent group, the age-adjusted odds ratio of being in the highest versus the lowest quintile of adult body mass index for men with birth weight > or = 10.0 lb was 2.08 (95% CI, 1.73 to 2.50). These findings support the hypothesis that early life exposures, for which birth weight is a marker, are associated with several chronic diseases in adulthood.

Risk Factors of Age-related Maculopathy in a Population 70 Years of Age or Older

Purpose: To evaluate possible risk factors for age-related maculopathy (ARM) in an epidemiologic cross-sectional population study of inhabitants 70 years of age or older in a rural area in Oulu County, Northern Finland.Methods: Five hundred of the 560 (89%) eligible subjects were examined. The diagnosis of ARM was based on fundus photographs in 83% of the population or on ophthalmoscopic findings in 13%; in 4%, the fundi could not be seen. Both early and late forms of ARM were included.Results: The prevalence of ARM increased steadily with age without overall significant difference between men and women. The condition was, however, related to high body mass index in men. The ARM appeared to be also associated with the presence of cataract, broad peripapillary atrophy, and severe sclerosis of the retinal arteries, but after controlling for age, these associations were nonsignificant. No association was found between ARM and systemic hypertension, diabetes, smoking, working outside, myopia, glaucoma, or the presence of exfoliation. In logistic regression analysis, age was the only statistically significant risk factor for ARM in both sexes. In men, a high body mass index also was found to be a predictor for ARM.Conclusions: The presence of ARM was associated with cataract and signs of age-related vascular changes in the eyes. Of the general factors, age in both sexes and high body mass index in men were found to be the only predictors of ARM.

Age and secular trends in risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Busselton

Mortality rates from heart disease and stroke in Australia have been falling for more than 20 years. No completely satisfactory explanations for this trend exist. However, it is believed to be due, at least in part, to changes in the incidence of cardiovascular disease arising from changes in the prevalence and severity of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The adult community of Busselton in Western Australia participated in cross-sectional health surveys every three years from 1966 to 1981. This paper describes secular trends from 1966 to 1981 and age trends from 25 to 80 years for cardiovascular risk factors in Busselton men and women. Downwards secular trends were observed for mean blood pressure and smoking for men and women, upwards trends were observed for body mass index in men, and mean cholesterol was approximately constant over this period. The age and secular trends were consistent with other Australian studies conducted in the 1980s and with overseas studies. An estimated 67 per cent of the decline in cardiovascular mortality rates among Busselton men and 22 per cent of the decline among Busselton women may be attributed to changes in the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Body mass index and cardiovascular mortality at different levels of blood pressure: a prospective study of Norwegian men and women.

The study investigated the joint effect of body mass index and systolic blood pressure on cardiovascular and total mortality. This was a prospective cohort study. The main outcome measures were age adjusted mortality and relative risks estimated from survival models. The population of the city of Bergen, Norway. Subjects were 21,145 men and 30,330 women aged 30-79 years at the time of examination in 1963. Both cause specific and all cause mortality increased with systolic blood pressure within each category of body mass index. Stroke mortality was not significantly associated with body mass index when adjusted for systolic blood pressure in either age group of men or women. Coronary heart disease mortality increased on average 30% per 5 kg/m2 increase in body mass index in men and women aged 30-59 years at baseline. Adjusted for systolic blood pressure, the relative risks were reduced to 1.20 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.29) in men and 1.10 (95% CI 1.03, 1.18) in women. They were similar at each level of systolic blood pressure. For coronary heart disease mortality in men and women aged 60-79 years at measurement a negative interaction between body mass index and systolic blood pressure was suggested in the first five years. Excluding the first five years, adjusted relative risks per 5 kg/m2, were 1.05 (95% CI 0.96, 1.15) in men and 1.11 (95% CI 1.04, 1.17) in women in the older age group. There was an upturn in cardiovascular mortality at low levels of body mass index in both age groups of women, but not in men. Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and all cause mortality even in the obese. Body mass index is generally a weak predictor of cardiovascular mortality in this population. It is a stronger risk factor of coronary death in men when measured at a younger age. Thin people with hypertension are not at particularly high risk of death from coronary heart disease compared with their obese counterparts, except possibly in the first few years after measurement in the elderly. Being underweight is associated with increased risk of death from all cardiovascular causes in women, but not in men.

Antithrombin III: Associations with Age, Race, Sex and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Antithrombin III (AT III) is a major inhibitor of blood coagulation, and hereditary deficiency is associated with venous thrombotic disease. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a prospective study of 15,800 middle-aged men and women, measured AT III in its baseline examination. AT III levels were significantly higher in women than men, and in blacks than whites. AT III decreased with age in men but increased with age in women. In age- and race-adjusted analyses, AT III was positively associated with smoking, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (men only), and in women, with diabetes and lipoprotein(a). AT III was negatively associated with educational level, body mass index in men, and use of female hormones in women. Most of these associations were confirmed in multivariate analysis. These correlations between AT III and other risk factors must be considered when evaluating AT III as a risk factor for venous or arterial thrombosis.

Is diabetes mellitus related to undernutrition in rural Tanzania?

To investigate the relation between undernutrition and diabetes. Survey of glucose tolerance in rural Tanzania. Eight villages in three widely separated regions of Tanzania. 8581 people aged 15 and above: 3705 men and 4876 women. Oral glucose tolerance, body mass index, height, and low haemoglobin and cholesterol concentrations. In the eight villages 42.7-56.9% of all men and 30.0-45.2% of all women had a body mass index below 20 kg/m2; the lowest quintile was 18.2 kg/m2 in men and 18.6 kg/m2 in women. The prevalence of diabetes did not change significantly from the lowest to the highest fifths of body mass index in men (lowest 1.6% (95% confidence interval 0.8% to 2.9%) v highest 1.3% (0.7% to 2.5%)) or women (1.1% (0.6% to 2.1%) v 0.5% (0.2% to 1.2%)). In men and in women prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was greater in the lowest fifths of height (8.2% (6.3% to 10.6%), and 11.1% (9.2% to 13.3%)) respectively and body mass index (9.6% (7.5% to 12.1%), and 8.4% (6.7% to 10.5%)) than in the highest fifths (impaired glucose tolerance 4.7% (3.4% to 6.5%); and 5.1% (3.9% to 6.7%); body mass index 5.1% (3.7% to 7.0%), and 7.7% (6.2% to 9.6%). Rates of diabetes were not significantly associated with low body mass index or height, but overall rates were much lower than those in well nourished Western populations. Increased impaired glucose tolerance in the most malnourished people may reflect the larger glucose load per kilogram weight. The role of undernutrition in the aetiology of diabetes must be questioned.

Acute alcohol intoxication, body composition, and pharmacokinetics

The present study compared alcohol pharmacokinetics associated pharmacokinetics associated with body weight, anthropometrically estimated total body water, and body mass index in men and women in two experimental sessions, single dose and double dose. All subjects were given the same amount of alcohol (2.3 and 4.6 oz. 86 proof vodka for single dose and double dose, respectively). Data analyses found a significant correlation between body mass index and peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Weight and total body water were not significantly correlated with peak BAC. The findings suggested that body mass index may be considered a better criterion than body weight for equating alcohol doses.