Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one the most common prostate diseases in middle aged and elderly men. This study was conducted to investigate diet and lifestyle risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia in a community-dwelling free-living population group. The dietary data were collected from the 601 male subjects aged 50-79 years using the 24-hour recall method. The mean age of the BPH group ($63.0{pm}7.9$ years) was significantly higher than that of the non-BPH ($58.8{pm}7.4$ years). Among many nutrients, the amount of animal fat intake was increased while that of carbohydrate intake decreased in subjects with BPH compared to those with non-BPH. In BPH subjects, the proportion of energy from fat was also greater than in subjects with non-BPH. The logistic regression analysis on the food consumption data showed that the consumption of total animal food was increased while that of mushrooms was decreased in patients with BPH compared to the subjects with non-BPH. The age-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidences limits for BPH incidence in subjects whose milk and milk products, beverages and alcoholic liquors intake was greater than the median were 1.796 (1.167-2.782) and 1.738 (1.129-2.676) respectively, compared to those in subjects whose intakes were below the median. These results may be applicable in the development of a nutrition intervention and education program toward a reduction in the risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia.