You’re driving around doing errands. Suddenly you hear a siren approaching from behind, and a glance in the rearview mirror confirms the flashing lights of an ambulance coming up fast. You heed the warning signs and do what every good driver should: you pull over to the right at the first opening, let the emergency vehicle take its victim to the hospital.
Today, we are becoming increasingly aware of a global emergency vehicle that’s coming up rapidly, headed to hospitals with millions of patients. They are the victims of metabolic syndrome, a complex condition that increases the risk of serious illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and even cancer. In fact, metabolic syndrome functions as a critical warning as we go about our routine lives.
According to Oxford Refence, a syndrome is a combination of signs and/or symptoms that forms a distinct clinical picture indicative of a particular disorder. In this case, characteristics of metabolic syndrome include a) high insulin levels that increase the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), b) systemic inflammation accompanied by body fat tissues that release inflammatory biochemical compounds, and c) disruptive hormonal changes including imbalances in estrogen and testosterone levels. In turn, these conditions promote alterations in blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. All of these factors have a synergistic effect that takes its toll on the body. As a result, the risk of serious illness can skyrocket, leading to doctor offices, clinics, and hospital beds filled with patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and even cancer.
The global incidence of metabolic syndrome has increased over the past 20 years, placing a huge economic burden on healthcare costs. The sad irony is that metabolic syndrome can be defeated through lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, healthy sleep, and stress reduction. Demographic studies show that metabolic syndrome shortens life expectancy, and men who have metabolic syndrome along with prostate cancer (PCa) have worse survival rates than PCa patients who don’t have metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome and prostate cancer
Some studies have found a link between metabolic syndrome taken as a whole and higher risk of PCa. Yet that was not the finding of a 2025 report of a large-scale analysis of data from the United Kingdom Biobank included 242,349 adult males (recruited during 2006–2010 and followed until 2021). Of that population, 6,467 (2.7%) participants were diagnosed with PCa. Although metabolic syndrome taken as a full cluster was not associated with PCa risk, two specific components were significantly linked with greater risk: hypertension (high blood pressure) and obesity. On the other hand, diabetes was linked with reduced PCa risk, but studies of diabetics on the drug metformin report lower PCa rates so it’s hard to determine if the disease lowers PCa risk, or at least one drug used to manage it.
With regard to hypertension, the authors suggest that heightened activity of the sympathetic nervous system may lead to stimulation of prostate cancer cell growth by androgens (male hormones, particularly testosterone). In addition, abdominal obesity is connected with higher blood levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, which can promote prostate cancer cell growth and reduce cancer cell death. It has been observed that men with metabolic syndrome who develop prostate cancer often have more aggressive tumors, more risk of recurrence after treatment, and potentially worse outcomes. As previously noted, their life expectancy with PCa is shorter than that of patients who don’t have metabolic syndrome.
Preventive lifestyle changes
The entwining of metabolic syndrome with prostate cancer poses a double whammy, to be sure, yet lifestyle changes have been demonstrated to lower the risk of each of them separately. Managing metabolic syndrome through weight management (diet, exercise), blood sugar control (diet, medication) and blood pressure management (medication, stress management, mindfulness practice) would not only have a construct impact on the characteristics of metabolic syndrome, but these practices have also been shown to lower prostate cancer risk and disease aggression in PCa patients without metabolic syndrome.
Furthermore, in a classic study by Dean Ornish and colleagues at U. California/San Francisco, 30 early stage prostate cancer patients on Active Surveillance who adhered to a 3-month clinical study protocol not only positively altered gene expression that regulates tumor development, they also lost weight/body fat, gained muscle tone, and experienced greater wellness and vitality.
One last note: It is great to take charge of one’s wellness, especially implementing lifestyle habits known to lower the odds of PCa as well as prevent metabolic syndrome. However, many factors contribute to the onset of PCa, not all of them controllable by lifestyle, e.g., family history of cancer, ethnic lineage, exposure to toxic elements, etc. The good news is that if PCa is detected early when it is still contained in the gland, the patient may be a candidate for a minimally invasive focal therapy, such as focal laser ablation or other method, that destroys the cancer while minimizing the risk of urinary and sexual side effects. Furthermore, patients who receive a focal treatment while also integrating preventive lifestyle practices may significantly lower the risk of recurrence in the untreated portion of the gland.
No matter what, it makes the best sense to embrace a preventive wellness style with plant-forward nutrition, regular vigorous exercise, relaxation, sound sleep, great social relationships, and a positive outlook. As the French say, A votre santé (Here’s to your health)!
NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain, or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.
Image by Artem Podrez from Pexels
The editorial staff of Medical News Bulletin had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Medical News Bulletin. Medical News Bulletin does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products or services, nor do we endorse any products, services, or links in our Sponsored Articles.
