Do You Need Supplements To Improve Your Prostate Health?

This series of articles is informational only and not intended to be a substitution for your doctor’s advice, so make sure that you seek a professional opinion if you feel that you may have prostate issues.

In the previous article we looked at some foods you might want to include in your grocery shopping. These foods were scientifically proven to help fight cancer.

In this article, we will look at supplements. This is a massive topic and covers so many areas. The focus of this article will therefore be on questions such as:

• Do you need them?
• Which ones do you take, and for what?

The purpose of this article, then, is not to promote a particular brand, but to help you make an informed choice about adding supplements to your diet (or not).

Supplements are BIG business

According to Fortune Business Insights, the market size of the global dietary supplements mark was US $61.20 billion in 2020.

This market is projected to reach US $128.64 billion in 2028. This growth appears to have been driven, at least in part, by the global pandemic in a bid for individual health and wellness.

Why would you take a nutritional supplement?

If your nutrition is poor, do not seek to improve it by buying a supplement. Supplements are not cures or food staples. Their purpose is to…well, supplement your already healthy food intake.

On the other hand, you might wish to take a supplement for any of the following reasons:

• you do not wish to micro-manage your diet,
• or, you want to do more than just survive,
• degradation and erosion of the world’s soils and the impact on food quality
• pollution,
• increased use of pesticides on crops,
• dangers of genetically modified foods,
• heavy food processing during production,
• you exercise regularly and intensely.

When you buy any supplement, how do you choose?

The main purpose of any for-profit business is to make a profit. Supplement businesses exist to sell supplements and make a profit.

With regard to testosterone boosters and supplements claiming to support prostate function, many of them are not worth spending money on.

If you go by the glowing reviews, how do you know that you can trust them? Even if the purchase is verified?

Remember that what might work for one person might not work for you.

Or it might take longer, so you need to be patient.

If you are on a budget and you already eat healthy, chances are you do not need to supplement.

However, if you must…

• Take care to go for a high quality supplement. Cheaper ones tend to have fillers that serve no purpose except to provide bulk to the product.

• Watch out for claims that appear too good to be true. You know the saying, right?

Say it with me: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• You will also need to watch out for claims that promise instant results. A good supplement generally takes about two to three weeks (similar to medications) to really have any effect.

It is quite challenging, isn’t it, given that we are not creatures or logic; we are creatures of emotion and we make decisions based on how we feel about something.

• Take your time, do your research before you decide to spend your money.

• Make sure you go with a reputable company that has a consistent and well-established track record.

Supplements for managing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

The following supplements have been intensely studied with a view to treating BPH:

Beta-sitosterol: is a sterol able to improve urinary symptoms and flow measures, but not to reduce the size of the prostate gland. It does have anti-cancer properties.

Pygeum: an extract from the bark of the Prunus africana tree. A six-month trial in Spain saw significant improvements in the quality of life of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and BPH.

Rye Grass: This pollen of this plant is used to make medicine. Cernilton is one such product, and is a registered for pharmaceutical use in Western Europe, Japan, Korea and Argentina. American researchers in Minnesota, USA, found that Cernilton was well tolerated and was helpful, albeit moderately, in reducing those frequent nightly visits to the bathroom.

Naturally, long term effectiveness and safety studies are necessary.

Supplements for managing symptoms of prostate cancer

Oxidative stress is associated with prostate cancer. Thus you will find several of these substances to have anti-oxidant properties.

Curcumin: you will find this in tumeric. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is useful for various conditions. Works best when combined with black pepper.

The research into this herb has expanded in recent years, and looks promising, despite some studies showing no effect.

Soy isoflavones: not to be confused with soy-based foods, or the additive soy lecithin which is added to many processed foods.

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis by American researchers found that Asian populations that consumed soy as part of their regular diets might be a contributing factor to the low incidence of prostate cancer among these populations.

Now, before you go rushing out to stack up on tofu, take note:

The soy we are talking about here is FERMENTED soy.

Vitamin E: this is an anti-oxidant, moderate amounts are recommended and low doses seem to work for elderly people. There is a concern that high doses over the long term may be associated with prostate cancer.

Vitamin D: while we do get this naturally from the sun, it is during the winter months in North American and European countries that our exposure to natural sunlight is low. Thus, in Europe, for example, residents are encouraged to take Vitamin D during the winter months.

This vitamin is necessary for supporting vital processes such as immune function, calcium absorption and cell function.

When it comes to advocating it as a treatment for prostate issues, some researches conclude that there is no benefit. What is not clear from these studies is whether or not the D3 form (cholecalciferol) was used or the D2 (ergocalciferol). The D3 form is recommended if you are planning on getting it, even if it is to support your immune system.

Selenium: a trace mineral which has several functions, including its role as an anti-oxidant, as well as supporting iodine metabolism, oxidative damage repair, and the regulation of thyroid hormone production.

It seems the jury is still out on this one, largely due to what has been referred to as the low quality of selenium supplementation studies.

However, you cannot go wrong with broccoli and/or garlic, both of which contain selenium.

Zinc: this mineral is essential and plays a huge role including supporting brain function and the immune system.

It is usually taken to reduce the duration of the common cold, to support optimum testosterone levels, and to assist recovery from physical training.

This supplement comes in a variety of forms, including a nasal spray. You might want to stay away from the spray if you value your sense of smell.

In the first study by American researchers to examine the association with zinc intake with prostate cancer in black men, they found no evidence for such an association, despite lower intake of the mineral.

Low doses of zinc support normal day-to-day survival, while higher doses might be beneficial for sportspeople and for people who have health challenges.

Bear in mind too, that short term use is better than long term use. Seek your doctor’s advice on taking it and cycling it.

Saw palmetto: the grandaddy of prostate health supplements?

This plant is a bit like garlic showing up in numerous studies, although the difference in this case is it shows up in just about every nutraceutical product marketed for prostate health, particularly for dealing with BPH.

However, the research into its usefulness appears to be inconsistent.

For example, in a recent review aimed at assessing effects and harms of saw palmetto, American researchers concluded that saw palmetto, even at double or triple doses did not improve urological flow measures or prostate size in men with lower tract symptoms consistent with BPH.

Researchers from China, on the other hand, found that it was indeed effective in lowering lower tract urinary symptoms.

The review focused on a comparison of saw palmetto with the prescription drug Tamulosin.

Nevertheless, this supplement is often stacked with other ingredients, especially Beta-sitosterol, in prostate health formulations.

How much do I take?

Stick with the recommended instructions as provided by the supplement manufacturer, and seek your doctor’s advice if you need to increase dosages.

More is not necessarily better, particularly if you are already a healthy person. Besides, there are side effects with some supplements, for example, zinc, that you might not wish to experience.

In a future article, we will look at some alternative approaches to looking after your prostate or for managing your symptoms.

But first, we are going to revisit the prostate to have a further look at its functions in the next article.

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Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/spilled-bottle-of-yellow-capsule-pills-208518/

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