Body composition and metabolic markers in relation to prostate cancer risk and progression

Julie Kasperzyk^1,2,3, Laufey Steingrímsdóttir^3,4, Unnur Valdimarsdottir³, Johanna Torfadottir³

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide. Epidemiologic evidence has been controversial regarding the link between body mass index (BMI; a measure of adiposity) and incidence of prostate cancer, though a high BMI has been more consistently associated with worse prognosis. In addition to adiposity, a number of potential mechanisms relating to co-existing diabetes or metabolic syndrome may also influence prostate cancer risk and progression. Additional, large-scale epidemiologic studies with adequate follow-up time are needed to further elucidate the influence of these factors on prostate cancer.

Our main goal is to examine body composition and metabolic factors in relation to prostate cancer risk and progression within the Reykjavik Study, a large cohort established in 1967 that is led by the Icelandic Heart Association. Over 9000 Icelandic men are members of the ongoing Reykjavik Study, including over 1100 prostate cancer patients, where BMI, blood pressure, blood insulin and glucose, blood lipids, and diabetes were measured at cohort entry. In addition, the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES) subsample of over 2400 men has updated measurements on metabolic markers and body fat content and distribution (Am J Epidemiol. 2007;165:1076-87). The AGES study also contains a survey of early-, mid-, and late-life diet, including whole grain and rye bread consumption over the life course. Overall, we hope to shed light on the potential links between body composition, metabolic syndrome, diet, and prostate cancer.

¹Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
²Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
³Centre for Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
⁴Unit for Nutrition Research, University Hospital & the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland

List of publications

Research projects

• Wholegrain intake and cancer risk
• Body composition and metabolic markers in relation to prostate cancer risk and progression
• Life of breast cancer survivors in the Diet Cancer and Health cohort
• Health behaviour and breast cancer survival
• Changing Diets and Forgotten Food-Staples in Iceland c. 1850-1950
• Intake and determinants of intake of whole grain foods in the Norway, Sweden and Denmark
• Dietary determinants for haemoglobin adducts of acrylamide and glycidamide
• Whole grain consumption and incidence of gastric cancer
• Comparison of whole grain consumption from food frequency questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recalls
• Sources of dietary fiber and risk of colorectal cancer: results from the HELGA cohort
• Feasibility of a Nordic Lifestyle Intervention Trial on Prostate Cancer Progression
• Time-trends in bread consumption in the Norwegian Women and Cancer Study
• Alkylresorcinols of whole grain wheat and rye intake
• Ethnological study: Conceptual framing of modern food culture.
• Comparison of different dietary patterns from three cohorts (HELGA) and socio-economic factors
• Metabolomics and cell culture analysis of the impact of whole grain phytochemicals on human nutrition
• Sami lifestyle and health — risk associations of a low whole-grain diet
• Intervention Study I: The Impact of Fermented and Unfermented Rye Bread on Helicobacter Pylori Infections and Some Metabolic Factors in Humans in Baoshan Region, Shanghai, China
• Intervention Study II: Long-term Effect of Rye Bread based diet on Subjects with Prostate Cancer
• Plasma enterolactone and risk of colorectal cancer
• All-cause mortality in relation to intake of whole grain
• Anthropological study: Taste and dietary preferences, explored through the re-evaluation of rye bread and other Nordic foods
• Whole grain products — determinants of intake and cancer risk

Interesting links

• Biomarkers of dietary intake
• Rye and Health (The GRAINITY project)
• Oats and Health (The GRAINITY project)
• Summary of Recent Research On Whole Grains and Health (pdf-document)
• Whole grain Fact Sheet
• Fuldkornspartnerskabet (in Danish)
• Opplysningskontoret for brød og korn (in Norwegian)