Prostate Swelling (BPH)

An enlarged prostate (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH) will occur in over 50% of men in their lifetime. A common condition, its frequency increases with age, from 5 or 10% at age 30 to 90% in men over 85. It's symptoms relate to bladder obstruction and include urinary frequency, many trips to the bathroom at night, and difficulty urinating. It also causes sexual dysfunction. Excess alcohol consumption and certain pesticides or other pollutants can contribute to BPH.

The primary culprit in BPH is dihydrotestosterone (DHT.) DHT is created from testosterone by the action of 5-alpha-reductase. Testosterone levels are thought to decline with age while estrogen, prolactin, LH, and FSH levels all increase. Higher estrogen levels are thought to inhibit the removal of DHT from the prostate. The latest research shows that as testosterone levels fall with age, estrogen becomes the primary culprit. Prostate size appears to correlate with estradiol level and with the ratio of estradiol to free testosterone.

Lately, it has been thought that testosterone does not decline but becomes bound to serum protein in the blood. The body produces DHT to compensate. Urtica (stinging nettle extract) unbinds testosterone. Stinging Nettle is also an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase is the enzyme that the body uses to convert androgens such as testosterone into estrogen. Stinging Nettle is synergistic with pygeum in this regard.

In a study done in Germany, Stinging Nettle increased urinary volume by 66.1% (10.9 to 18.1 ml/sec.) IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) went from 18.2 to 8.7. On this scale 0-7 is slightly symptomatic, 8-19 is moderately symptomatic and 20-35 is highly symptomatic. A natural approach to BPH involves zinc and certain herbs which are most effective in mild to moderate cases. Severe cases may require surgery or alpha blocker drugs (e.g. Hytrin or Minipress.) Zinc was shown in studies in the 1970's to reduce the size of the prostate gland and ameliorate symptoms in most subjects. Zinc also inhibits 5-alpha-reductase and prolactin which increases uptake of testosterone in the prostate. Beer, stress and tryptophan aggravate the problem. (BPH victims should probably avoid 5-HTP as it stimulates the production of tryptophan.)

usual, essential fatty acids (EFA's) were found to cause a significant improvement in BPH. As with so many other conditions, BPH victims have imbalanced or diminished fatty acids. Flax seed oil is a good source of these EFA's, and so is saw palmetto.

dized cholesterol damages the prostate and is believed to be carcinogenic. Oxidized cholesterol stimulates prostate hyperplasia. Antioxidants (lycopene, other carotinoids, flavonoids, grape-seed and other plant extracts) prevent oxidization of cholesterol.

Various herbs have been shown to be quite effective in BPH. In order of effectiveness, they are Serenoa repens (saw palmetto extract) - Cernilton - Pygeum africanum - Urtica dioca (stinging nettle.) Serenoa and Pygeum are both found in Nutriteam's Prostate Factor supplement. Some people respond better to one herb than another. In a quality of life survey, after 90 days, men taking saw palmetto extract overwhelmingly declared themselves happy or satisfied with the results. It produced better and faster results than finasteride (Proscar) the prescription drug used for BPH which can take a year to work.

ormone imbalances that may precipitate BPH may be discovered with a simple saliva test called the Male Profile.

Prostate Formula, in an easy to absorb capsule.

Per 2 capsules: Saw Palmetto(25% fatty acids), 500mg; Nettle extract, 250mg.; Pygeum Africanum, 100mg.; Zinc aspartate, 15mg.; Lycopene(Ly-Co-Mato?), 5mg.; Pumpkin seed powder, 300mg. No added sugar, salt, starch, wheat, corn, yeast, soy derivatives, colorings, flavorings or preservatives.

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