Zinc and magnesium serum levels in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) before and after prazosin therapy.

In 32 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) serum levels of zinc and magnesium were studied before and after prazosin therapy with (Minipress-Pfizer), 4 mg daily. Following cessation of therapy a slight increase in Zn levels was observed, i.e. from 99.79 to 103.29 micrograms/dl, whereas Mg levels did not change significantly (1.95 and 1.94 mg/dl, respectively). In comparison with other organs, the human prostate is characterized by high Zn and Mg content. In BPH the Zn levels are increased. They are markedly decreased in carcinoma of the prostate and in prostatitis [4, 5]. Zn and Mg play an important role as catalysts in various enzymatic reactions. It has been postulated that changes in concentrations of these two elements are parallel [6]. Kvist has found that Zn imparts resistance to detergent-induced decondensation of spermatozoon nuclear chromatin. The effect was more pronounced with higher Zn concentrations in a buffer fluid. Other bivalent cations were found to be ineffective in stabilizing nuclear chromatin under such conditions. A possible role for seminal zinc in prevention of the reduction of disulfide cross-links and nuclear decondensation was postulated [2]. Zinc also plays an important role in protein synthesis. Zinc ions inhibit androgen metabolism in the prostate. Physiologic Zn serum levels are equal to or above 90 micrograms/dl [4, 6]. Magnesium, unlike zinc, is uniformly distributed within different areas of the gland. In BPH, both normal and increased Mg levels in the prostate have been reported [6]. Mg plays an important role as an activator of enzymes (phosphatases) involved in ATP metabolism, thus affecting both katabolic and anabolic processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)