Comparison of fatty acid profiles in the serum of patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE

The role of dietary fatty acids (FAs) in benign and malignant prostatic diseases was investigated by comparing the composition value of serum fatty acids in the normal controls, and patients with prostate cancer (PC) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Also, to estimate a possible association between PC risk and PUFAs, omega-3, omega-6 and omega-3/omega-6 FA composition ratios were compared among these groups.

METHODS

Serum samples were obtained from 24 BPH and 19 PC patients, and from 21 age-matched normal male subjects. The serum concentration of 21 fatty acids was determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

RESULT

The proportional values of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) groups demonstrated no specific difference between the control subjects and the patients. In the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), we found that the omega-3 PUFAs level was significantly decreased in patient with BPH and PC and that the omega-6 PUFAs level was increased in PC only. The ratio of omega-3/omega-6 PUFAs decreased in the following order of normal, BPH, and PC.

CONCLUSION

It was proposed that the changed composition level of PUFAs including omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs have certain relationship with both prostatic diseases. Therefore, the ratio of omega-3/omega-6 PUFAs also may have an important association with the benign and malignant status of prostatic disease.