Featuring Prostate Health

Quick facts about the powerful prostate health supporting ingredients in this product(Please note disclaimer at bottom of page):

Saw Palmetto Extract - was used historically both for food and for treatment of urinary and reproductive complaints, and for removing mucous. It is the most often used botanical extract in regarding to prostate health.

About the age of 40, the prostate undergoes a hormone--mediated growth spurt, due to an increase in the testosterone metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The enzyme responsible for the production of DHT is found primarily in the cells of the prostate, scrotal skin, testicles and scalp. DHT causes prostatic enlargement as well as male pattern baldness. Saw Palmetto blocks the formation of DHT, inhibits the binding of DHT to prostate cells and blocks the update of DHT into the cell nucleus.

Phytosterol Extract - a pine tree trunk extract containing beta sitosterols has been shown to have numerous benefits, including reduction of hair loss (in combination with saw palmetto), reduction of blood cholesterol and reduction of of prostate size.

Stinging Nettle - is widely used to help alleviate symptoms of reduced urinary flow, incomplete emptying of the bladder, as well as relief of symptoms of arthritis, hay fever and elevated blood sugar.

Prostate Glandular (Porcine)- one of the newer methods for improving the health of specific glands in the human body is to supplement with desiccated glandulars of those glands from animals. Doing so, provides the exact nutrients that particular gland needs to be healthy.

Pygeum - numerous human studies report that pygeum significantly reduces urinary hesitancy, urinary frequency, the number of times patients need to wake up at night to urinate, and pain with urination in men who experience mild-to-moderate symptoms.

Pumpkin Seed - in addition to a large amount of nutrition, pumpkin seed has been shown to reduce inflammatory processes and to interrupt the DHT conversion process that leads to prostate enlargement.

Uva Ursi (bearberry) - is widely used for bladder and kidney complaints, Uva Ursi is known to increase urine flow.

Bee Flower Pollen (graminex) is widely used for increased virility and prostate health.

A large percent of men over the age of 40 suffer from an enlarging prostate gland. This can make urination difficult or increase its frequency. While initially benign in nature, an enlarged prostate can affect comfort and quality of life. This comprehensive men’s health focused formulation helps maintain a healthy prostate gland and promote normal urinary function.

Designed to be the most effective prostate health product on the market, our prostate Health product contains an optimum amount of several botanicals and nutrients that have been shown in numerous studies to be effective at supporting the health of the prostate gland.

Prostate Health Ordering Form

Cited Prostate Health Research and Further Prostate Health Study References:

Few men ever consider the walnut-sized fibrous gland called the prostate located just below the bladder, until it starts to give them trouble. After the age of 50, the prostate begins to hypertrophy, or increase in size. This is known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder) runs through the middle of the prostate. Consequently, when the prostate enlarges the urethra is compressed. (Fig. 1) This causes difficulty in urinating and requires many men to get up three or four times during the night to urinate. Other symptoms of BPH include hesitancy, dribbling, reduced force of the urinary stream, and occasional bleeding or infection. This condition may even proceed to the point of complete urinary obstruction.

Fifty to sixty percent of men between 40-60 years of age suffer from BPH, escalating to 75 percent of men by age 60 (Fig. 2).1 The projected annual cost of hospital care and surgical treatment for BPH in the United States is over $1 billion.

In fact, this condition is so common that physicians routinely ask their over-50 male patients, not “whether”, but, “How many times do you have to get up at night to go to the bathroom?”

Causes of Prostatic Enlargement

Prostate hypertrophy and inflammation are believed to be due to the consequences of a number of age-related changes in the metabolism and levels of male steroid hormones.

After the age of fifty, the level of free testosterone decreases, while levels of prolactin, estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) increase. Concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) the active metabolite of testosterone in the prostate increase, and binding of DHT to prostate tissue increases. DHT stimulates the prostate cells to enlarge, resulting in the swollen gland.

5-alpha reductase is the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. Consequently, one approach to preventing BPH has been to use substances that inhibit this enzyme, thereby blocking the formation of DHT, and its prostate-enlarging effect. Estrogen also seems to play a role in BPH by inhibiting the breakdown and removal of testosterone and DHT. The increased ratio of plasma estrogen/testoster-one is due to the increased formation of estrogens formed by the conversion of androstenedione to estrone and estradiol by the enzyme, aromatase. Another approach to preventing or treating BPH is, therefore, to use aromatase inhibitors to prevent this estrogenic conversion.

Therapeutic Options for BPH

Until recently, outside of “watchful waiting”, surgery was about the only solution for this troublesome condition. Fortunately, less invasive and more physiological approaches to prevent and treat BPH are now available, based on our increased understanding of its causes. Clearly, a rational approach should include: (1) normalization of prostate nutrient levels; (2) restoration of steroid hormones to normal levels; (3) inhibition of excessive conversion of testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone); (4) reduction of DHT receptor binding; and (5) reduction of prostatic inflammatory promoters such as prolactin.

ProscarÂ® is a prescription drug which inhibits 5-alpha reductase. This drug has recently been introduced into the physician’s toolset for treatment of BPH. Use of Proscar results in a 20 percent decrease in prostate size in 50 percent of the men who are treated. Unfortunately, Proscar is fairly expensive, with the significant side effect of sexual dysfunction.

Fortunately, however, there are nutritional alternatives which provide, without adverse effects, equivalent or greater benefits at reduced cost.

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 lipo-philic extracts of saw palmetto berries for this purpose. Saw palmetto reduces prostate hypertrophy by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase €”just like its expensive prescription “cousin” €”and by preventing the binding of DHT to androgen receptor cell sites. These actions increase the breakdown and excretion of DHT. Saw palmetto also interferes with the actions of inflammatory substances that contribute to prostate inflammation and reduces the pro-hypertrophic effects of estrogen and progesterone on the prostate.

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 urination, 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. 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 recently, University of Chicago researchers studied the effects of saw palmetto extract versus placebo on 85 men, 45 years of age or older.20 The researchers evaluated the subjects based upon three measurements: the International Prostate Symptom Score, a sexual function questionnaire, and the urinary flow rate. At the end of the study, the subjects treated with saw palmetto experienced significant improvement and reduction of symptoms such as frequent urination both during the night and day and interruptions in urination. The researchers stated that their study provides the most conclusive evidence to date that saw palmetto can benefit men with prostate problems.

Of particular interest was a study that compared Proscar with saw palmetto extract that found that saw palmetto had fewer side effects, provided an equivalent or greater benefit, and was a more affordable form 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. The action of pygeum extract in counteracting prostate hypertrophy is believed to be due to a number of mechanisms, which include its ability to: (1) inhibit the basic fibroblast growth factor induced cellular proliferation; (2) inhibit aromatase; (3) restore secretory activity of the prostatic epithelium; and (4) increase prostatic secretions.

In one study, 18 patients with BPH or chronic prostatitis, many of whom also had sexual disturbances, received an extract of pygeum. After 60 days, all urinary parameters that were investigated were improved, and sexual disturbances were relieved. In a placebo-controlled French trial of 120 patients, the pygeum group experienced significant reductions in the number of urinations and more complete bladder emptying than the placebo group.

An international, multi-center, double-blind, controlled trial of pygeum extract in 263 patients with BPH over a 60 day period showed improved urinary symptoms in 66 percent of the patients.29 Italian placebo-controlled studies confirmed these benefits.Most of the clinical studies with pygeum used dosages ranging from 75-150 mg per day.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Extracts of stinging nettle are used routinely in Europe to treat BPH. Stinging nettle shares several mechanisms with Pygeum and saw palmetto, but has several actions that are unique. The known mechanisms of stinging nettle on the prostate include its ability to: (1) inhibit aromatase; (2) reduce the binding activity of SHBG; (3) inhibit prostate membrane Na+, K+-ATPase activity; (4) block epidermal growth factor receptors; and (5) block 5-alpha reductase.Stinging nettle has been tested and found to be effective in BPH as a single nutrient, or in combination with Pygeum. Extracts of stinging nettle when used alone were superior to placebo, but efficacy was enhanced when combined with Pygeum. The dosages of stinging nettle in the clinical studies was 300 mg per day.

Beta-Sitosterol

Beta-sitosterol, one of the main subcomponents of a group of plant sterols known as phytosterols, is a white, waxy substance with a chemical structure very similar to that of cholesterol. Research into beta-sitosterol has shown beneficial effects against a wide variety of human ailments, including BPH. Beta-sitosterol is the key ingredient in a prescription formulation in Europe, Azuprostat-beta-sitosterol, which has been demonstrated to improve prostate symptom scores and quality of life, and reduce urine volume and residual urine levels. The research team reported that “beta-sitosterol itself is an effective option in the treatment of BPH.” Beta-sitosterol was also found to reduce the growth of human prostate cancer cells.

Conclusion

Beta-sitosterol, and extracts from Saw palmetto, Pygeum africanum, and stinging nettle 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.

Denis, L.J. Editorial review of “Comparison of phytotherapy (Permixon) with finasteride in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia: A randomized international study of 1098 patients.” The Prostate, 1996, 29: 241-242.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No product mentioned herein is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

The information on this website is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of the Healthy-Living.Org staff and contributors. It is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional andit is not intended as medical advice. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any healthproblem or for modification of any medication regimen. You should consult with a healthcare professional before startingany diet, exercise or supplementation program, before starting or discontinuing any medication, or if you suspectyou have a health problem. You should keep in mind that cited references to ongoing nutritional scientificstudy are most likely not accepted by the FDA as conclusive. These references and mentionsof potential benefits are disavowed as product claims and are only included for educationalvalue and as starting points for your own research. No food or supplement can beconsidered safe for all individuals. What may benefit 999,999 of a million peoplemay harm you. Therefore, no one can take responsibility for your healthexcept you in consult with your trusted health professional.