Prostate problems are common in men 50 and older, and the most serious disorder, prostate cancer, is reaching epidemic proportions. While a healthy lifestyle is important, men are seeking additional non-drug measures to reduce their risk. There are several scientifically supported supplements that help to maintain excellent prostate health. Plant extracts, vitamins, minerals and certain fatty acids can provide significant benefits in a variety of ways. Nevertheless, these supplements are not intended to replace conventional modes of diagnosis or cure of diseases.
The Prostate and Prostate Disorders
Located just below the bladder, the prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. It is slightly larger than a walnut, and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. Its primary function is to make and store an alkaline fluid that makes up part of semen, the fluid that contains sperm. The most common prostate disorders are prostate inflammation, or prostatitis; prostate enlargement, or BPH; and prostate cancer.
Plant Extracts
A prime culprit in the development of BPH and possibly prostate cancer is overproduction of a spin-off of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Saw palmetto, pygeum africanum and stinging nettle root extract are potent plant extracts that, alone or in combination, block DHT and thereby may help prevent many forms of prostate disease. Saw palmetto, for example, was compared with Flomax, a common drug used for BPH, in a study published in the journal European Urology. Saw palmetto was much more effective than the drug in reducing BPH symptoms, while sexual dysfunction was more common in the group taking Flomax. Recommended dosages for these plant extracts are 160 mg Saw Palmetto, 120 mg Stinging nettle root and 50 mg Pygeum. These dosages should be taken twice a day. Consultation with a doctor is advised before taking these supplements. They are not substitutes for medical treatment.
Vitamins
Among its numerous health benefits, vitamin D may play an important role in the prevention of prostate cancer. According to a report in "Cancer Research," men with a high level of sun exposure had a 50 percent lower prostate cancer risk than men with low sun exposure. The authors of the study believe that the protection against prostate cancer was due to the vitamin D made from sunlight.
Vitamin E, a major dietary antioxidant, has been found to improve prostate cancer survival. In another "Cancer Research" study, men who received vitamin E supplements and whose levels of vitamin E were highest experience the lowest risk of prostate cancer mortality, which was 49 percent less than that of participants with the lowest vitamin E levels. Recommended dosage for vitamin D is 1000 to 5,000 IU per day, while 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E, including gamma tocopherol, is suggested.
Minerals
Selenium is an essential trace mineral that, like vitamin E, functions as an antioxidant to protect cells and tissues from damage from oxidants such as smoke, chemicals and excessive sun exposure. It has the ability to reduce risk to many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. The Nutrition Prevention of Cancer study, or NPC, conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona and published in "Biomedical and Environmental Sciences," showed a remarkable 63 percent fewer prostate cancers among subjects taking 200 mcg of selenium than subjects in the placebo group. A dosage of 200 to 400 mcg of selenium is recommended.
Lycopene and Omega-3 Fats
Lycopene is an antioxidant pigment that gives tomatoes their red color. Lycopene has been associated with a reduced rate of prostate cancer, as reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The recommended dosage for supplemental lycopene is 10 to 30 mg a day. The anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA, can also promote prostate health. Like saw palmetto, omega-3 fats block the synthesis of DHT. Fish oil is the best source of omega-3 fats, and 2 to 4 grams a day are suggested.
References
- "European Urology"; Comparison of a phytotherapeutic agent (Permixon) with an alpha-blocker (Tamsulosin) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 1-year randomized international study; May 2002
- "Cancer Research"; Sun exposure, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms, and risk of advanced prostate cancer; E.M. John et al.; June 2005
- "Cancer Research"; Association of variants in two vitamin e transport genes with circulating viatmin E concentrations and prostate cancer risk; Margaret E. Wright et al.; May 2009
- "Biomedical and Environmental Sciences"; Reduction of cancer risk with an oral supplement of selenium; G.F. Combs et al.; September 1997
- "Journal of the National Cancer Institute"; A Prospective study of tomato products, lycopene, and prostate cancer risk; E. Giovannucci et al.; March 2002
