Saw
Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Extracts
of Saw Palmetto berry are being used extensively throughout the world for
the relief of BPH.
Both
the French and German governments approve lipophilic extracts of saw
palmetto berries for this purpose. Positive results with saw palmetto have
been confirmed in numerous open as well as double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trials. All of these studies demonstrated
statistically significant improvements in the symptoms of BPH, which
included increased volume and rate of urine flow, alleviation of pain and
night time urinations, and reduced number of voidings per day. Overall,
these studies showed a consistent benefit of saw palmetto extract, with
virtually no side effects of any consequence. A striking characteristic of
these studies is that most subjects experienced relief within days of
beginning the therapy, with benefits continuing to improve over time in
many cases, as much as one year of continuing improvement! Most studies
however, were terminated after 30, 60 or 90 days.
Of
particular interest was a recent study which compared Proscar with saw
palmetto extract. Saw palmetto extract showed reduced side effects, an
equivalent or greater benefit, and reduced cost of treatment. The optimum
dose of saw palmetto in most clinical studies was 320 mg per day.
Pygeum
Africanum
Extracts
of the African herb Pygeum Africanum have also shown impressive results in
relieving symptoms of BPH. Evidence suggests Pygeum by itself may
provide symptomatic relief for men with BPH, although it seems to work
best when combined with other modalities.
In a large double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in
Germany, France, and Austria, 263 men diagnosed with BPH took either
Pygeum or placebo for 60 days. The
results showed statistically significant improvement in such measures as
residual urine, urinary flow rates (which were described as near normal),
and night time frequency.
In a double-blind study
conducted in Poland, 134 men (aged 53-84 years) with BPH symptoms agreed
to take one of two doses of a stinging nettle/Pygeum preparation (either
300 mg or 150 mg of stinging nettle and 25 mg of Pygeum) twice daily for
eight weeks. The researchers
found that both doses were equivalent in significantly improving symptoms,
including improved urine flow rate, decreasing frequency, and reduced
residual urine.
Stinging
Nettle
In
an open-label human study conducted in France, 67 men with various degrees
of BPH took stinging nettle extract for up to six months. The treatment
significantly reduced the number of night time trips to the toilet,
especially in men with mild BPH. Symptom relief was achieved in as little
as three weeks in those with the mildest BPH
Lycopene
A Harvard-based study
published a few years ago found that eating at least ten servings a week
of tomato-based foods - especially cooked tomato - could reduce a man’s
risk of developing prostate cancer by as much as 45%. The ingredients in
tomatoes that makes them so valuable for prostate health is lycopene, a
carotenoid (a cousin of beta carotene), which provides the red colour in
tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit.
Of the 600 to 700 that have been identified so far, lycopene is the
one that is present in human plasma in the highest concentrations.
In males, lycopene tends to concentrate in the testes, adrenal
glands, and prostate. According
to one author in a recent review of lycopene research, “Remarkable
inverse relationships between lycopene or serum values and risk have been
observed in particular for cancers of the prostate, pancreas, and to a
certain extent, of the stomach. In
some studies, lycopene was the only carotenoid associated with risk
reductions.” (Italics added.) While ten servings of cooked tomato dishes
per week may be a bit much for most people, lycopene supplements are
readily available.
Conclusion
Extracts
from Saw Palmetto, Pygeum africanum, Stinging Nettle and Lycopene have all
demonstrated efficacy when used in the treatment and prevention of Benign Prostatic
Hypertrophy (BPH). Because of their multiplicity of actions, it
should be no surprise that when these phytonutrients are combined, they
are even more effective than when used individually.
ProstaCol,
which incorporates all the above ingredients, is one of the most complete
and advanced prostate support formulas available. It can also be combined
with Prostabrit, a Rye Grass Extract preparation used in some European
studies. (See 2 Prostate)
