The association of plasma fatty acids with prostate cancer risk in African Americans and Africans.

Higher risk for prostate cancer (PCa) among African Americans is partly associated with exposure to dietary fatty-acids, the carcinogenic effects of which remain controversial. Odds ratio of PCa risk was determined by unconditional logistic regression comparing highest with lowest quartiles of plasma fatty-acids in a case-control design. Mean age for 173 African Americans and 340 Nigerians was 56.

The association of plasma fatty acids with prostate cancer risk in Nigerians.

Purpose: To investigate the role of fatty acids (FAs) in prostate cancer (PCa) risk in Nigeria, a country in transition to westernized diet high in animal fats, and currently experiencing rising rates of prostate cancer.

Methods: Men > or =40 years were recruited from surgery/urology clinics, University of Benin Teaching Hospital and from 2 rural and 2 urban communities. Personal information, urological symptom history and anthropometrics were recorded, digital rectal examination performed, and 30 mLs of fasting blood collected for prostatic specific antigen and fatty acid (FA) analysis.