Review of exercise and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

It has been long appreciated that a healthy lifestyle plays a critical role in cardiovascular health. It is now apparent that the same is true in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Since 1995, 14 studies have been identified that investigate the clinical relationship between exercise and BPH/LUTS. No randomized controlled trials have been performed, but useful prospective cohort data originating from recent publications on the medical treatment of BPH and prevention of prostate cancer are available. Most of the literature supports a clinically significant, independent, and strong inverse relationship between exercise and the development of BPH/LUTS. Several mechanisms for this relationship have been proposed, including decreased sympathetic tone, avoidance of metabolic syndrome, and reduced oxidative damage to the prostate.