Herbs can preserve prostate health:
saw palmetto, Pygeum africanum extract and stinging nettles root extract can prevent and even help treat prostate enlargement.

July, 1998

The incidence of prostate gland disorders increases each year in men after the age of 40. Problems associated with prostate disorders can range from uncomfortable inflammation and increased urinary frequency to cancer and death.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer. The American Cancer Society predicts that this year 209,900 cases of prostate cancer will be newly diagnosed, and that approximately 41,800 men will die from this disease.

Several natural products are effective in preventing and/or treating these conditions. These include: extracts of the herbs saw palmetto, Pygeum africanum and stinging nettles root; the minerals zinc and selenium; and a diet high in vegetables containing lycopene.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) denotes an enlargement of the prostate gland. This non-cancerous condition occurs in half of men between the ages of 40 and 59, and in 80 percent of men over age 70. The first sign of clinical BPH is usually the need to urinate frequently during the night. As the condition progresses, many men also develop a slight pain or burning sensation during urination as well as difficulty starting the flow of urine. There is also a noticeable decrease in the force of the urine stream. As the gland enlarges further, it begins to squeeze or pinch off the urethra, obstructing urination.

The most prominent theory proposed to explain the pathological development of BPH is known as the dihydrotestosterone or DHT hypothesis.(1) Normally, the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase converts the male hormone testosterone to DHT, which is approximately 10 times more potent than testosterone. As men age, a number of factors cause an abnormally high amount of testosterone in prostate tissue to be converted to DHT.(2) The higher levels of DHT trigger the genes that spur cellular growth, leading to enlargement of the prostate gland. DHT also increases mitochondrial activity in prostate cells, thereby creating more oxidative stress (also known as free radical damage). This causes a decrease in cellular levels of glutathione peroxidase which, in turn, weakens the immune system within the prostate gland.(3) PAGE 31 American Druggist July, 1998

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is the most widely known herb used to prevent and treat BPH. Usual dose of saw palmetto extract is 160 mg taken twice daily.

More than 20 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have shown that the fat-soluble liposterolic extract from saw palmetto berries can reduce severity of all major symptoms of BPH. Saw palmetto extract actually outperforms finasteride (Proscar, Merck). In clinical trials, saw palmetto extract reduced symptoms in approximately 90 percent of patients within four to six weeks. In separate trials, finasteride was found to be effective in 37 percent of men after one year of taking the drug.

Both saw palmetto and finasteride were found to improve urine flow in men with BPH. However, pooled data from multiple studies reveals that saw palmetto provided a 38 percent improvement in urine flow within three months (9.53 mL/sec to 13.15 mL/sec) whereas finasteride provided a 16 percent improvement after 12 months (9.6 mL/sec to 11.2 mL/sec).(4)

Further, both saw palmetto and finasteride were observed to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase. Unlike finasteride, saw palmetto also inhibits the ability of dihydrotestosterone to bind to cellular receptor sites at the prostate. In addition, saw palmetto exerts a direct anti-inflammatory effect on prostate tissue.(5)

Extract of the herb Pygeum africanum is commonly used in Europe to treat BPH. Usual dose is 50 to 100 mg daily: Results from a large multi-center European study found that Pygeum africanum significantly increased urine flow and decreased residual urine in 66 percent of men treated.(6) Many men treated with Pygeum africanum also experienced substantial improvement in sexual performance. Several companies are now marketing products containing both saw palmetto and Pygeum africanum for prevention and treatment of BPH.

Stinging nettles root extract (Radix urticae) is another herb useful in treating BPH. Usual dose is 250 mg, one to three times daily. It blocks the receptor sites, preventing the action of dihydrotestosterone. Several European trials of stinging nettles root report improved urinary flow rates, reduction in residual urine levels, and reduction in size of the prostate gland.

The concentration of the mineral zinc in the prostate gland is much higher than in other tissues of the human body. In fact, it is estimated that the prostate gland uses ten times as much zinc than any other organ. Adequate zinc levels help prevent enlargement of the prostate gland by helping to regulate activity of the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme. When zinc levels are low, activity of this enzyme is higher, increasing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. On the other hand, higher levels of zinc reduce the activity of 5 alpha-reductase, resulting in less conversion of testosterone to DHT.[7] Zinc not only prevents prostate enlargement; studies show it also helps to shrink a gland that is already swollen.[8]

Use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a tumor marker has revolutionized the early detection of prostate cancer. However, the PSA test is somewhat controversial because it yields a significant number of false-positives. Either BPH or prostatitis can also cause an elevation of PSA, leading many men to undergo unnecessary surgical biopsies. Efforts are underway to improve the tests accuracy. PAGE 32 American Druggist July, 1998

Psa exists in the blood in several forms. It has recently been discovered that free PSA, the fraction that is not bound to proteins, is lower in men with cancer than in men with BPH. Comparing the amount of free PSA to total PSA is an effective way of diagnosing whether a man has BPH or prostate cancer. This new knowledge allows the accurate early detection of prostate cancer and expectations are that it will eliminate most of the unnecessary biopsies associated with false-positives.[9]

Most studies that have evaluated the relationship between dietary fat and prostate cancer report that a high-fat diet is associated with an increased rate of prostate cancer.[10] In studies of dietary meat intake, three out of four cohort studies and four of five case-controlled studies show an increased risk of prostate cancer with higher meat consumption.

A review of dietary studies suggests that diets high in vegetables decrease the risk of prostate cancer." One dietary component that seems to provide protection against prostate cancer is a phytochemical called lycopene, found in tomatoes and related food products. Lycopene is a powerful quencher of singlet oxygen-free radicals. The highest concentrations of lycopene can be found in the testes, adrenals and prostate gland. Thus diets high in lycopene may be providing specific antioxidant protection for the prostate.[12]

In a recent study, the long-term daily supplementation of 50 mg vitamin E was also found to result in a substantial reduction in incidence and mortality from prostate cancer. Overall, men taking vitamin E had a 32 percent lower incidence of prostate cancer. Also, the death rate from prostate cancer among men taking vitamin E was 41 percent lower.[13]

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, volunteers in Arizona were given 200 mcg per day of the trace mineral selenium for four years to test its ability to prevent skin cancer. Although selenium failed to decrease incidence of skin cancer, the following remarkable findings were reported:

Compared to placebo controls, individuals taking selenium had 63 percent less incidence of prostate cancer, 58 percent less incidence of colorectal cancer, and 45 percent less incidence of lung cancer.[14] Cancer researchers around the world are excited about this study. If these results can be duplicated, some scientists are saying that selenium may be the most potent anti-cancer agent ever tested.

Prostate problems are very common as men age. Men should be informed that natural herbs such as saw palmetto, Pygeum africanum, and stinging nettles root often perform as well as commonly prescribed drugs in treating prostate problems without the side effects of drugs.

The best way to keep the prostate gland from enlarging is to keep the whole body well-nourished and the immune system strong by following a healthy diet, a healthy lifestyle and appropriate use of specific herbs and daily nutritional supplements. Following these steps can delay or even prevent the onset of chronic degenerative diseases, including prostate problems.

REFERENCES

1. Isaacs JT, Coffey DS. Etiology and disease process of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate Suppl, 1989;2:33-50. PAGE 33 American Druggist July, 1998

2. Deslypere JP, et al. Testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone interact differently with the androgen receptor to enhance transcription of the MMTVCAT reporter gene. Mol Cell Endocrinol, 1992 Oct;88(1-3): 15-22.

3. Ripple MO, et al. Prooxidant-antioxidant shift induced by androgen treatment of human prostate carcinoma cells. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1997 Jan 1;89(1):40-48.

4. Murray MT. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Prima Publishing, Rocklin, CA 1998.

5. Plosker GL, Brogden RN. Serenoa repens (Permixon): A review of its pharmacology and therapeutic efficacy in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Drugs & Aging, 1996 Nov;9(5):379-395.

6. Barlet A, et al. Efficacy of Pygeum africanum extract in the treatment of micturitional disorders due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Evaluation of objective and subjective parameters. A multicenter, randomized, double-bind trial. Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1990;22:667-673.

7. Leake A, et al. The effect of zinc on the 5 alpha-reduction of testosterone by the hyperplastic human prostate gland. J Steroid Biochem, 1984 Feb;2092):651-655.

8. Fahim MS, et al. Zinc arginine, a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, reduces rat ventral prostate weight and DNA without affecting testicular function. Andrologia, 1993 Nov;25(6):369-375.

9. Catalona WJ. Clinical utility of measurements of free and total prostate-specific antigen (PSA): a review. Prostate Suppl, 1996;7:64-69.

10. Rose DR Connolly JM. Dietary fat, fatty acids and prostate cancer. Lipids, 1982; 27:798-803.

11. Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a global perspective. World Cancer Research Fund, in association with the American Institute for Cancer Research, Washington, DC, 1997, p. 320.

12. Gerster H. The potential role of lycopene for human health. J Am Coll Nutr, 1997 Apr;16(2):109-126.

13. Heinonen OP. Prostate cancer and supplementation with alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene: incidence and mortality. J Natl Cancer Inst, 1998 March 18;90(6): 440-446.

14. Clark LC, et al. Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 1996 Dec 25;276 (24): 1957- 1963.

ROSS PELTON, RPH., PH.D., C.C.N., is a pharmacist and certified clinical nutritionist in San Diego, CA. He has co-authored three books on nutrition: How To Prevent Breast Cancer, Alternatives to Cancer Therapy and Mind, Food & Smart Pills.

Copyright 1998 Information Access Company, a Thomson Corporation Company;
ASAP Copyright 1998 American Druggist, Inc. American Druggist

SECTION: No. 7, Vol. 215; Pg. 52; ISSN: 0190-5279

IAC-ACC-NO: 20983955

LENGTH: 1874 words