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PROSTATITIS AND ENLARGED
PROSTATE
See special protatitits
supplements offer
Bioforce Prostasan (for relief of symptoms of enlarged prostate)
The prostate is a small doughnut shaped male sex gland
that surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra. Its major function
is to contribute to seminal fluid.
There are three main conditions that can affect the prostate gland.
Prostatitis, common in men of all ages, means inflammation of the prostate
gland. The usual causes are bacterial infection and hormonal changes
in older men. The inflammation can result in urine retention which in
turn can cause bladder, urethra and kidney infection. Symptoms include
pain, usually between the scrotum and rectum, difficulty in passing
water, frequent urination with a burning sensation, dribbling after
urination, feelings of fullness of the bladder, and blood or pus in
the urine. Later symptoms can include lower back pain and impotence,
with difficult urination.
Enlarged prostate, nowadays called Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH),
is the gradual enlargement of the prostate. It occurs in over sixty
percent of all men over the age of fifty, and three quarters of men
over seventy years of age. The usual cause is hormonal changes causing
overproduction of prostate cells. Eventually the enlarged prostate obstructs
the urethra, so that complete emptying of the bladder becomes difficult.
It also causes pressure on the kidneys. All the symptoms mentioned above
for Prostatitis are also usual.
Left untreated, BPH gets worse with age, yet most men avoid seeing their
doctor for fear it might be cancer. However, BPH is simple to treat
with nutritional medicine before it ever develops into cancer. If you
have any worries, don't be afraid to see the doctor, and follow the
suggestions given below as well.
Prostate cancer is mainly a disease of ageing. Approximately 80 percent
of all prostate cancer occurs in men over the age of 65, increasing
in likelihood with age. Fortunately, although it is relatively common,
in most cases prostate cancer is slow-growing, particularly in older
men. The symptoms are similar to that of prostatitis (inflammation)
and benign enlargement of the prostate (BPH), so a professional diagnosis
must be made by your doctor via a rectal examination and a PSA test
(blood test to detect elevated levels of a substance called prostate-specific
antigen). These tests should be carried out on all men over the age
of about 50, as early detection can often help stop the cancer spread
to other sites.
Nutritional considerations for Prostatitis
and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Once the Doctor has ruled out the possibility of cancer, it is possible
to treat yourself with nutrition. It is important, however, to first
have that check-up with the Doctor, and do check the contra-indications
under the shopping section.
As men age there are many significant changes in hormone levels. Testosterone
levels decrease after the age of fifty, while other hormones such as
prolactin, oestradiol, LH, FSH and others are increased. This creates
an increase in the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within the prostate.
DHT is a very potent sex hormone derived from testosterone, and is responsible
for the overproduction of prostate cells which cause the enlargement.
Various hormonal changes prevent the excess DHT from being excreted.
Furthermore, the increased prolactin causes further testosterone to
be taken into the prostate, and the problem escalates.
So what has all this to do with nutrition you
might ask?
A deficiency of zinc and essential fatty acids is known to be involved
in those who produce too much DHT. Excess cholesterol also contributes
to the problem, so it's wise to check your cholesterol levels and reduce
if necessary.
These undesirable levels of prolactin are increased by beer and stress.
Drugs that reduce prolactin reduce many of the symptoms of BHP. However,
these drugs have severe side effects (such as impotence). It appears
that the trace mineral zinc and vitamin B6 can reduce prolactin levels
as well, yet produce no side effects at prescribed doses.
Zinc has been shown to reduce the size of the enlarged prostate and
accompanying symptoms in the majority of cases. Not all forms of zinc
are equally well absorbed, so it is important to choose a good quality
supplement. Several factors in BPH suggest the use of zinc. Intestinal
uptake of zinc is impaired by oestrogens (found in beer!). Since oestrogen
levels are increased in men with BPH, zinc uptake may be low despite
adequate dietary intake. Providing high quality zinc may compensate
for oestrogen's depression of zinc uptake.
Alcohol also reduces zinc uptake and increases zinc excretion, leading
to relative zinc deficiency. In addition, alcohol reduces active vitamin
B6 levels which may further reduce zinc stores.
Because zinc competes with copper, iron, calcium and magnesium for absorption,
if you are taking extra zinc, it is important you also take a good quality
multimineral supplement which includes these.
The amino acids glycine, alanine and glutamic acid have also been shown
to reduce symptoms of prostate problems.
Herbs have proven themselves to be very useful in managing early stages
of BHP. You will need to continue taking them indefinitely to keep the
symptoms in check.
Saw Palmetto inhibits the enzyme that converts testosterone to its more
active form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and also blocks DHT from binding
in the prostate.
Dietary recommendations
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Follow a basically healthy diet and
increase zinc containing foods such as seafood (especially oysters),
pumpkin seeds, eggs and brewers yeast. Lean meat also contains zinc.
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Reduce cholesterol (fried foods and
most vegetable oils).
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Eat organically grown food if possible,
as pesticides can reduce zinc uptake and may even increase DHT.
-
Eat oily fish such as wild salmon, mackerel,
sardine and herring at least three times a week.
-
Drastically reduce or better still,
eliminate, alcohol, especially beer.
-
Cut out sugar and caffeine (coffee,
tea, coca-cola).
-
Drink at least 1½ litres of clean water
per day. At first symptoms may worsen, as the bladder has to adjust,
but this will improve.
-
Eat ¼ - ½ cup of pumpkin seeds a day
Supplements
Often, a combination of supplements may
help in alleviating this condition. You may wish to consult a nutritional
therapist for personal advice. Supplements that may be helpful in alleviating
symptoms are shown below:
Caution
Do not use Prostate Complex
in hormone related malignancies.Do not use Essential Fatty Acids with
anticoagulent drugs such as Warfarin, Heparin or Coumarin.
Recommended Books
health book - A Natural Way to a Healthy Prostrate
health book - Unofficial Guide to Impotence, The
health book - Viagra Alternative, The
see also:
high cholesterol
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