Prostate Support

First Time: Take 4 softgels every day for the first 3 days. Then 2 softgels every day thereafter provides continual support for prostate health.

As men age, the need for maintaining or supporting normal prostate and lower urinary tract (LUT) health and function increases. Clinically meaningful levels of key ingredients target urinary flow and frequency as well as prostate-related hormone metabolism.

FLOWENS®: Cranberry fruit has a history of use among Native Americans for kidney and urinary health [1]. Modern research supports this traditional use [1-3]. Cranberry fruit is recognized as a rich source of oligosaccharides and phytochemicals, including proanthocyanidins, flavonols and triterpenoids. FLOWENS is a 100% all-natural, full-spectrum cranberry powder designed and optimized for men’s health. In a clinical study, FLOWENS® was shown to improve quality of life and support urinary tract function with improvements noted within the first month of supplementation.

Saw Palmetto: Saw palmetto extracts have been widely used in Europe and more recently in the United States as a natural way to help maintain normal prostate health and LUT function. A systematic review [4] of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 2,939 men and another analysis of 21 clinical trials involving 3,000 men and reviewed by Cochrane [5] support the safety and efficacy of saw palmetto extract preparations. Animal and human clinical trials continue to support a role for saw palmetto in prostate health [6-8].

Pygeum Africanum: The use of pygeum dates back approximately 300 years, and extracts are a well-known and often-used alternative for supporting prostate health in many European countries [9]. Numerous open and placebo controlled studies in large populations have demonstrated its efficacy and acceptability for supporting healthy urine flow and volume, reducing nocturnal voiding, and improving quality of life [10-12].

Beta-Sitosterol: Beta-sitosterol is a plant phytosterol commonly used to promote LUT function in men. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multicenter study, 200 patients were supplemented with 20 mg of beta-sitosterol three times per day or placebo. Significant improvements in urinary flow parameters were observed in the beta-sitosterol group only [13]. In a follow-up study, the beneficial effects of beta-sitosterol treatment were maintained for 18 months [14]. In a six-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 177), 130 mg/d of beta-sitosterol resulted in significant improvements in patients’ quality of life, urinary flow rate, and residual volume compared to placebo [15].

Zinc and Vitamin B6: Zinc is highly concentrated in the prostate gland, and a lack of zinc may be associated with a reduced DNA damage and repair response in prostate tissue [16]. Therefore, zinc adequacy is vital for optimal prostate health, especially with advancing age [17]. Pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (P5P) is the active form of vitamin B6. In a population-based prospective study of 525 men, Kasperzyk et al found that high vitamin B6 intake had an inverse association with prostate-related mortality [18].  

References

1. Vidlar A, Student V Jr, Vostalova J, et al. Cranberry fruit powder (Flowens™) improves lower urinary tract symptoms in men: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. World J Urol. 2016 Mar;34(3):419-24. [PMID: 26049866]
2. Vasileiou I, Katsargyris A, Theocharis S, et al. Current clinical status on the preventive effects of cranberry consumption against urinary tract infections. Nutr Res. 2013 Aug;33(8):595-607. [PMID: 23890348]
3. Blumberg JB, Camesano TA, Cassidy A, et al. Cranberries and their bioactive constituents in human health. Adv Nutr. 2013 Nov 6;4(6):618-32. [PMID: 24228191]
4. Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Stark G, et al. Saw palmetto extracts for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. JAMA. 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1604-09. Erratum in: JAMA 1999 Feb 10;281(6):515. [PMID: 9820264]
5. Wilt T, Ishani A, MacDonald R. Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(3):CD001423. Review. Update in: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(2):CD001423. [PMID: 12137626]
6. Saw palmetto: clinical overview. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Kunz T, Dinda K, eds. The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; 2003:309-319. http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/DocServer/Saw_Palmetto.pdf?docID=167. Accessed May 24, 2016.
7. Mantovani F. Serenoa repens in benign prostatic hypertrophy: analysis of 2 Italian studies. Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2010 Dec;62(4):335-40. [PMID: 20944533]
8. Iii Colado-Velázquez J, Mailloux-Salinas P, Medina-Contreras J, et al. Effect of serenoa repens on oxidative stress, inflammatory and growth factors in obese wistar rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Phytother Res. 2015 Oct;29(10):1525-31. [PMID: 26104840]
9. Levin RM, Das AK. A scientific basis for the therapeutic effects of Pygeum africanum and Serenoa repens. Urol Res. 2000 Jun;28(3):201-09. [PMID: 10929430]
10. Breza J, Dzurny O, Borowka A, et al. Efficacy and acceptability of tadenan (Pygeum africanum extract) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a multicentre trial in central Europe. Curr Med Res Opin. 1998;14(3):127- 39. [PMID: 9787978]
11. Ishani A, MacDonald R, Nelson D, et al. Pygeum africanum for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis. Am J Med. 2000 Dec 1;109(8):654-64. [PMID: 11099686]
12. Wilt T, Ishani A, MacDonald R, et al. Pygeum africanum for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD001044. [PMID: 11869585]
13. Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, et al. Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Beta-sitosterol study group. Lancet. 1995 Jun 17;345(8964):1529- 32. [PMID: 7540705
14. Berges RR, Kassen A, Senge T. Treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia with beta-sitosterol: an 18-month follow-up. BJU Int. 2000 May;85(7):842-46. [PMID: 10792163]
15. Klippel KF, Hiltl DM, Schipp B. A multicentric, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol (phytosterol) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. German BPH-Phyto Study group. Br J Urol. 1997 Sep;80(3):427-32. [PMID: 9313662]
16. Yan M, Song Y, Wong CP, et al. Zinc deficiency alters DNA damage response genes in normal human prostate epithelial cells. J Nutr. 2008 Apr;138(4):667- 73. [PMID: 18356318]
17. Costello LC, Franklin RB, Tan MT. A critical assessment of epidemiology studies regarding dietary/supplemental zinc and prostate cancer risk. Open Urol Nephrol J. 2008;1. [PMID: 24204440]
18. Kasperzyk JL, Fall K, Mucci LA, et al. One-carbon metabolism-related nutrients and prostate cancer survival. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Sep;90(3):561-69. [PMID: 19571228]