Diet and Nutritional Supplements for Prostate Enlargement

The health of the prostate gland appears to be significantly affected by dietary factors. Dietary modification and nutritional supplements can play a major role in providing symptomatic relief, enhancing biochemical parameters and reducing prostate size.

High Protein Diet and Prostate Enlargement

A high protein diet has been shown to inhibit 5-alpha-reductase which may result in a reduction of the conversion of testosterone to DHT, a more potent form of testosterone, which has been implicated in prostate enlargement.

Conversely a low protein, high carbohydrate diet stimulates 5-alpha-reductase.

Cholesterol and Prostate Enlargement

It is important to keep blood cholesterol levels below 200mg/dL. Decreasing cholesterol levels has a favorable effect on prostate enlargement.

Cholesterol that has been damaged by free radicals is toxic and carcinogenic to the prostate gland and is believed to be involved in stimulating prostate cell proliferation in prostate enlargement.

Dietary modification and natural remedies to reduce cholesterol levels can be of benefit particularly if cholesterol is elevated dramatically. As well as the generally recommended dietary and lifestyle changes, the following nutritional supplements can assist with lowering cholesterol levels:

Flaxseed oil, fish oil, niacin, garlic, turmeric, green tea, psyllium husk, soy protein and vitamin E.

Alcohol and Prostate Enlargement

A high alcohol intake is associated with an increased incidence of prostate enlargement, especially beer and wine, thus it is best to eliminate or limit alcohol intake.

Caffeine and Prostate Enlargement

A high caffeine intake may be related to prostate enlargement and is also known to increase cholesterol levels along with many other detrimental effects on health in general.

Coffee and tea are best avoided with the exception of green tea in moderation.

Pesticides and Prostate Enlargement

Pesticides increase the activity of 5-alpha-reductase. If at all possible the diet should be largely composed of organic foods. In particular cadmium is a zinc antagonist (a mineral critical to prostate health) and it increases the activity of 5-alpha-reductasse and stimulates the growth of prostate epithelium. One of the most common sources of cadmium is cigarette smoke.

Selenium and Prostate Enlargement

Selenium helps to prevent prostate enlargement by inhibiting cadmium induced stimulation of prostate epithelium cells.

Zinc and Prostate Enlargement

Zinc has been shown to decrease prostate size and relieve symptoms of prostate enlargement in most individuals. Zinc absorption may be decreased in men with prostate enlargement as estrogen levels are increased an estrogen impairs intestinal zinc uptake.

Zinc also inhibits 5-alpha-reductase activity as well as androgen binding to cell receptors. Prolactin secretion is also inhibited by zinc which may be helpful as prolactin increases testosterone uptake by the prostate gland.

Zinc is probably one of the most important nutritional supplements for the treatment of prostate enlargement.

Amino acids and Prostate Enlargement

A combination of glycine, aniline and glutamic acid (780 mg of each for 14 days followed by 390 mg daily thereafter) has been shown to relive many symptoms of prostate enlargement.

This treatment must be used in combination with other remedies as it is thought to help only with the symptoms but not reducing the size of the prostate.

Melatonin and Prostate Enlargement

Benign prostate epithelial cells contain melatonin receptors and treatment with melatonin for as few as 2-7 days has been shown to dramatically inhibit the growth of cells involved in prostate enlargement.

Soy and Prostate Enlargement

Soybeans are very high in phytosterols including beta-sitosterol, a compound that alleviates prostate enlargement by inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase activity and thus DHT production.

Soy phytosterols also reduce cholesterol levels.

Soybeans also contain the phytoestrogens diadzein and genestein which act on estrogen receptors and inhibit 5-alpha-reductase and protein kinase C activity; a substance that is known to stimulate the cells involved in prostate enlargement.

The consumption of soy phytoestrogens also has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

In order to achieve a therapeutic quantity of beta-sitosterol, genestein and diadzein it is recommended to consume 100g of soybeans, tofu or tempeh daily or otherwise obtain a high quality soy protein powder with guaranteed quantities of the active compounds.

Pumpkin Seeds and Prostate Enlargement

Pumpkin seeds have historically been used to treat prostate enlargement and associated symptoms. They contain delta-7-sterols which are thought o either inhibit 5-alpha-reductase activity or to decrease DHT binding in the prostate.

Essential Fatty Acids and Prostate Enlargement

Increasing the intake of essential fatty acids has been found to produce significant improvement in many patients with prostate enlargement. A combination of fish and flaxseed oils are recommended and these oils will also help to reduce high cholesterol levels.

Lycopene and Prostate Enlargement

Lycopene is an antioxidant found in high concentration in tomatoes. Lycopene has been found to concentrate in male tissues where it has been demonstrated to reduce rates of cellular proliferation.

Lycopene may be obtained in the diet by eating tomatoes and especially tomato paste concentrate cooked in olive oil as this increases its bioavailability. Lycopene may also be taken as a nutritional supplement.

Bee Pollen and Prostate Enlargement

Bee pollen alleviates prostate enlargement even in cases which are considered to be severe and chronic. Bee pollen’s success rate is between 70-85% and in clinical trials it has been found to reduce nocturnal urination, urinary frequency and residual urine volumes.

Bee pollen is also anti-inflammatory; it relaxes the urethra while contracting the bladder and contains a substance that inhibits prostate cell growth.

An effective dosage of bee pollen contains 63-126 mg of cernilton pollen extract, two times a day.

Copyright © Mizpah Matus 2003

See Also:

Health Benefits Of Tomato Consumption

Health Benefits of Soybeans and Tofu