Cause: Unknown.

Useful Supplements: Amino Acids, Beta-sitosterol, Flaxseed Oil, Pollen, Zinc.

Useful Herbs: Nettles, Pygeum, Saw Palmetto.

Further information: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is the growth of non-cancerous tumors in the prostate gland. While its cause is unknown, BPH appears to be caused in some way by a reaction between the prostate tissue and hormones found in the testicles, as BPH is not seen in eunuchs, and tumors regress if the testicles are removed.
BPH becomes more common as men age; as many as 95% of all men over 80 years old have BPH. The main concern caused by BPH is the fact that the tumor’s growth may effect and obstruct the urethra, causing difficulty in urination.
There appears to be no way to prevent BPH, other than the removal of the testicles prior to puberty. However, this is not a feasible method of prevention.
BPH is often non-symptomatic, especially in its early stages. As the tumors grow, however, symptoms such as difficulty urinating, painful urination, incontinence, and more frequent urination often appear.
Dietary changes do not appear to prevent or cure BPH. However, decreasing the amount of liquid ingested in the evening does help decrease the need to wake constantly to urinate during the night.

The following supplements and herbs have been shown to be effective in treating BPH:

Amino Acids, the building blocks of proteins, have been shown to help ease some of the effects of BPH. The addition of glycine, alanine, and glutamic acid (all three of which are found in high concentration in prostate fluid) to the diet has been shown to reduce the frequency and urgency of urination.¹

Beta-sitosterol appears to be the most effective supplement in the treatment of BPH. Taken in a dose of 20 mg three times daily, it has been shown to reduce the prostate’s size and improve urine flow.¹²

Flax Seed Oil has been shown to help reduce the prostate’s size and increase ease of urination.¹³

Pollen, acting as an anti-inflammatory, also helps to improve the symptoms of BPH by shrinking the prostate.¹⁴

Zinc is found in high concentration in prostate fluid. When given to BPH patients, it has been shown to shrink the prostate’s size.¹⁵

Nettle, or Uritica dioica, can be given as a high-concentration extract. When given in combination with Saw Palmetto and/or Pygeum, it has shown great promise as a treatment for BPH.¹⁶

Pygeum has anti-inflammatory and decongesting effects that greatly improve patients with early signs of BPH.⁷ A dose of 50 to 100 mg twice daily appears most effective.

Saw Palmetto extract has become a leading treatment of BPH in Europe. Taken regularly (160 mg or more daily), it has been shown to lessen the symptoms of BPH in almost all patients.⁸ Saw Palmetto has been shown to reduce levels of 5-alpha-reductase as well; this enzyme is often seen in high concentration in prostate cancer patients.⁹

References:

¹Damrau F. Benign prostatic hypertrophy: Amino acid therapy for symptomatic relief. J Am Geriatrics Soc 1962;10(5):426–430.
²Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lancet 1995;345:1529–32.
³Hart JP, Cooper WL. Vitamin F in the treatment of prostatic hypertrophy. Report Number 1, Lee Foundation for Nutritional Research, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1941.
⁴Horii A, Iwai S, Maekawa M, Tsujita M. Clinical evaluation of Cernilton in the treatment of the benign prostatic hypertrophy. Hinyokika Kiyo 1985;31:739–45 (in Japanese).
⁵Bush IM et al. Zinc and the prostate. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Medical Association Chicago, 1974.
⁶Koch E, Biber A. Pharmacological effects of sabal and urtica extracts as a basis for a rational medication of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urologe 1994; 334:90–95.
⁷Andro MC, Riffaud JP. Pygeum africanum extract for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A review of 25 year of published experience. Curr Ther Res 1995; 56:796–817.
⁸Schneider HJ, Honold E, Mashur T. Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results of a surveillance study in the practices of urological specialists using a combined plant-base preparation. Fortschr Med 1995; 113:37–40.
⁹Ross RK, et al. 5-alpha-reductase activity and risk of prostate cancer among Japanese and US white and black males. Lancet 1992;339:887–9