Tall Men May Have Higher Prostate Risk

Most men would enjoy a little extra height, but a new study found that tall men may not have all the advantages.

Tall men over 50 have a higher risk of prostate cancer than shorter men of the same age group, according to a study presented at the national meeting of the American College of Preventive Medicine Meeting in San Diego.

SURVEY Men: Have you had a prostate exam? Yes, routinely. Yes, once or twice. No, but I plan to when I'm older. No, never. Results  |  Disclaimer

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Boston studied the risk of prostate cancer based on age and three categories of height -- less than 70 inches, 70 to 71 inches, and 72 inches or taller.

The researchers used data from 1,634 men enrolled in the Physicians Health Study over a 14-year period. For the study, the researchers examined the effect of age on the relationship of height, weight, and body mass index to prostate cancer risk.

They found no relationship of weight and BMI to prostate cancer among the volunteers, but height was a factor.

For men over 72 inches in height and over age 50, there was a 32 percent greater risk of prostate cancer than men under 70 inches of the same age group. Men over 72 inches in height and over age 60 faced a 24 percent greater risk than shorter men of the same age group.

"Increasing height appeared to be a risk factor for prostate cancer over age 50," lead researcher Dr. Michael Gaziano said. "Statistically significant risk estimates suggest that in older age groups the relationship between height and prostate cancer increases. However, those less than age 50 have no statistically risk of prostate cancer with increasing height."

Gaziano called the study's findings "preliminary" and said that more research would provide a clearer picture of these relationships.