Dietary niacin intake and enlarged prostate risk in older men
What it found
Higher niacin intake from food was linked to a greater chance of having an enlarged prostate in 700 older US men.
The link held after accounting for other health factors.
What they found
Studies in people
More niacin, more prostate risk
Men who ate the most niacin from food were more likely to report an enlarged prostate than those who ate the least. This was seen across 700 older men in the US.
Average intake differences
Men with an enlarged prostate reported eating about 27.89 mg of niacin per day on average. Men without it reported about 23.37 mg per day.
Link stayed after adjustments
The connection between higher niacin intake and enlarged prostate remained even after accounting for age, weight, smoking, alcohol use, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Stronger link over age 60
The connection between higher niacin intake and enlarged prostate was also seen in men older than 60. It was present too in men with a history of high blood pressure or heart disease.
What the authors conclude
- They found that eating more niacin from food was linked to a higher chance of having an enlarged prostate in older men.
- They advise doctors to check prostate health before recommending nutrient supplements to middle-aged and older men.
- They suggest that older men with an enlarged prostate should consider cutting back on niacin and related compounds.
How it was done
Enlarged prostate is common in older men, but little research has looked at whether the amount of niacin eaten in food affects this risk. Niacin supplements are popular among older adults, so the authors wanted to check for any connection.
The authors used survey data from 700 men aged 40 and older in the United States collected between 2003 and 2008. Men reported what they ate over two days and answered questions about whether a doctor had told them they had an enlarged prostate. The researchers then compared niacin intake from food with prostate reports.
What it can’t tell you
- This study only looked at people at one point in time, so it cannot show that eating more niacin causes an enlarged prostate.
- The prostate information came from questionnaires rather than medical exams, which may be less accurate.
- The survey data is from 2003 to 2008, so it might not reflect current diets or populations.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, China; The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, China
The paper
- Title
- Association between dietary niacin intake and benign prostatic hyperplasia: a population-based results from NHANES 2003-2008
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Feng X, Chen Y, Xia W, Zhang B (2024). Association between dietary niacin intake and benign prostatic hyperplasia: a population-based results from NHANES 2003-2008. Journal of health, population, and nutrition. doi:10.1186/s41043-024-00624-1Free full textPubMed 39174993DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error