What is prostate enlargement?

The prostate is a single, doughnut-shaped gland about the size of a walnut that lies below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. The prostate secretes a thin, milky, alkaline fluid that increases sperm motility and lubricates the urethra to prevent infection. Prostate secretions are extremely important to successful fertilization of the egg.

Benign (nonmalignant) enlargement of the prostate gland is known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short. Because an enlarged prostate can pinch off the flow of urine, BPH is characterized by symptoms of bladder obstruction, such as increased urinary frequency, nighttime awakening to empty the bladder, and reduced force and caliber (speed of flow) of urination.

BPH is an extremely common condition. Current estimates are that it affects over fifty percent of men during their lifetime. The actual frequency increases with advancing age, from approximately five to ten percent at age thirty to over ninety percent in men over eighty-five years of age.

The key symptoms relate to blockage of the bladder outlet such as progressive urinary frequency, urgency and increased nighttime urination, hesitancy and intermittency with reduced force and caliber of urine.

What causes prostate enlargement?

BPH is largely the result of hormonal changes associated with aging. It is clearly dependent on the actions of male hormones (androgens) within the prostate gland. These changes within the prostate reflect the many significant changes in both male (androgen), female (estrogen), and pituitary hormone levels in aging men. The ultimate effect of these changes is that there is an increased concentration of testosterone within the prostate gland and an increased conversion of this testosterone to an even more potent form known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The increase in levels of testosterone and DHT is largely due to a decreased rate of removal combined with an increase in the activity of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to DHT.

What dietary factors are important in prostate enlargement?

Diet appears to play a critical role in the health of the prostate. In trying to treat or prevent BPH, the diet should be as free as possible from pesticides and other contaminants (e.g., dioxin, polyhalogenated biphenyls, hexachlorobenzene, and dibenzofurans). It is quite possible that the tremendous increase in the occurrence of BPH in the last few decades reflects the ever increasing effect that toxic chemicals have on our health. BPH is perhaps just one of many health problems that may be due to these toxic substances. A diet rich in natural, whole foods may offer some protection against these toxins.

In particular, focus on whole, unprocessed foods, including whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds in your diet. Eat ¼ cup of raw sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds each day for zinc which is used by prostate enzymes., Consuming soy foods helps balance testosterone metabolism. Also, lycopene-rich vegetables, such as tomatoes, spinach, kale, mangos, broccoli, and berries, when consumed daily promote prostate health and play a role in preventing prostate cancer. It is also important educe the intake of alcohol (especially beer), caffeine, and sugar, all of which have an adverse effect on the way testosterone is metabolized and cleared from the body.

What nutritional supplements should I take for prostate enlargement?

Foundation Supplements. There are three products from Natural Factors that I think are critical in supporting good health:

• MultiStart (age and gender specific multiple vitamin and mineral formulas). Follow label instructions.
• Enriching Greens - a great tasting "greens drink" containing highly concentrated "greens" like chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass juice, barley grass juice, etc., and herbal extracts. Take one serving (one tablespoon) in 8 ounces of water daily.
• RxOmega-3 Factors - A true pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement. Take two capsules daily.

Begin with one of the following:

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract has the most well-documented benefits of any natural treatment for BPH. Numerous clinical studies have shown saw palmetto extract has been shown to significantly diminish the signs and symptoms of BPH. Roughly ninety percent of men who have mild to moderate BPH experience some improvement in symptoms during the first four to six weeks of therapy. All major symptoms of BPH have been relieved, especially nighttime urinary frequency. The recommended dosage of the extract standardized to contain 85-95% fatty acids and steroids is 320 to 640 mg daily.

Pygeum africanum is an evergreen tree native to Africa. Numerous clinical trials in over six hundred patients have demonstrated pygeum extract to be effective in reducing the symptoms and clinical signs of BPH, especially in early cases. However, in a double-blind study that compared the pygeum extract with the extract of saw palmetto, the saw palmetto extract produced a greater reduction of symptoms and was better tolerated. There may be circumstances in which pygeum is more effective than saw palmetto and as the two extracts have somewhat overlapping mechanisms of actions, they can be used in combination. The typical dosage of pygeum extract is 50-100 mg twice per day.

Cernilton, an extract of flower pollen, has been used in Europe to treat BPH for more than thirty-five years and its effects have been confirmed in double-blind clinical studies. The overall success rate of Cernilton in patients with BPH is about seventy percent. The typical dosage of is 63-126 mg two to three times per day.

Prostate Health from Natural Factors provides a high potency comprehensive solution to prostate health with extracts of saw palmetto, Pygeum africanum, and flower pollen extract along with extracts of stinging nettle, red clover, turmeric (curcumin), and LYC-O-MATOT tomato extract with 7% lycopene. Take one or two capsules twice daily.

Comment:

Even if symptoms of BPH are quite mild, it is important to treat. Early treatment, especially with natural approaches, will produce better results. If left untreated, BPH can eventually obstruct the bladder outlet, resulting in the retention of urine and eventually kidney damage. As this situation is potentially life-threatening, proper treatment is crucial.

The chance of clinical success with any of the botanical treatments of BPH appears to be determined by the degree of obstruction as indicated by how much urine is left after attempting to void the bladder (the residual urine content) as determined by an ultrasound exam. For mild cases of BPH (residual urine levels less than 50 ml), the results are usually excellent and quite noticeable within the first month of therapy. For moderate cases (residual urine levels between 50 and 100 ml), the results are usually quite good within the first 4 to 6 weeks. For example, roughly ninety percent of men with mild-to-moderate BPH experience some improvement in symptoms during the first four to six weeks after beginning to take saw palmetto extract.

If the residual urine level is between 100 ml and 150 ml it may take 2-3 months before significant improvements are noted. If the residual urine content is greater than 150 ml, saw palmetto extract and other herbal medicines are not likely to produce any significant improvement on their own. In these cases, it may be necessary to use the herb in combination with drug therapy, and in very severe cases a surgical procedure to open up the passage way known as a TURP (trans-urethral resection of the prostate) may be necessary.

How do I know if the program is working?

Decreased nighttime awakenings to empty the bladder are usually the first signs of improvement following by a reduced sense of urinary urgency and increased caliber and flow of urine.

Feedback:

Please let Dr. Murray know how this program has worked for you by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Condition Center Caution:

• Dr. Murray’s recommendations and protocols for nutritional support are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care.
• The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
• If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your doctor prior to using the recommendations given.
• Do not self-diagnose. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician, preferably a naturopathic doctor (N.D.), nutritionally oriented medical doctor (M.D. or (D.O.), or other health care specialist. Please go to www.naturopathic.org to find a qualified naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in your area to help you.
• Make your physician aware of all the nutritional supplements or herbal products you are currently taking to avoid any negative interactions with any drugs you are taking.
• If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you absolutely must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen.