Prostate - Enlarged

Also known as:  BPH;  Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia;  Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy;  Prostatic Adenoma

Enlarged Prostate is a condition involving the enlargement (hyperplasia) and Inflammation of the (male) Prostate Gland.

 Enlarged Prostate usually occurs in men over the age of 50 - approximately 45% to 50% of men are affected by Enlarged Prostate at some stage of their lives.

 The prevalence of Enlarged Prostate increases with age.  5% to 10% of men aged 30 experience Enlarged Prostate;  more than 90% of men over the age of 85 experience Enlarged Prostate.

Amino Acids

 Alanine (but only when used in combination therapy with Glycine and Glutamic Acid - 780 mg of each Amino Acid for 14 days followed by 390 mg per day thereafter) may minimize the symptoms of Enlarged Prostate.  ^[2]

 Glutamic Acid (but only when used in combination therapy with Alanine and Glycine - 780 mg of each Amino Acid for 14 days followed by 390 mg per day thereafter) may minimize the symptoms of Enlarged Prostate.  ^[3]

 Glycine (but only when used in combination therapy with Alanine and Glutamic Acid - 780 mg of each Amino Acid for 14 days followed by 390 mg per day thereafter) may minimize the symptoms of Enlarged Prostate.  ^[4]

Carotenoids

 Lycopene may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate.  ^[5]

Hormones

 Melatonin may shrink the Prostate in Enlarged Prostate patients:  ^[6]

 High-affinity Melatonin receptors exist in human benign prostate epithelial cells and Melatonin treatment for as few as 2 - 7 days may inhibit the growth of non-viable Prostate Cells (i.e. the cells involved in Enlarged Prostate).

Lignans

 Secoisolariciresinol may alleviate Enlarged Prostate.  ^[7]

Lipids

 Beta-Sitosterol (60 - 130 mg per day) may alleviate Enlarged Prostate (the means by which Beta-Sitosterol reduces the risk of Enlarged Prostate is speculated to be via the inhibition of the conversion of Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone by the 5-Alpha Reductase enzyme).  ^[8]

 Lauric Acid may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate.  ^[9]

 Enlarged Prostate patients may have significantly lower Prostate levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.  ^[10]

Minerals

 Selenium may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate (it inhibits Cadmium-induced stimulation of the Epithelium of the Prostate).  ^[11]

 Zinc may alleviate Enlarged Prostate (by inhibiting the 5-Alpha Reductase enzyme that is responsible for the conversion of Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone).  ^[12]

Organic Acids

 D-Glucaric Acid may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate (by lowering elevated Estradiol levels).  ^[13]

Prescribed Medications

 Aspirin may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate.  ^[14]

Proteins

 Urtica dioica Agglutinin (a constituent of Nettle) may inhibit the ability of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) to bind to its Receptors in the Prostate and to subsequently stimulate the growth of Prostate tissue (a key underlying factor in the progression of Enlarged Prostate).  ^[15]

Polyphenols

 Genistein may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate (by inhibiting the activity of Protein Kinase C, an enzyme that stimulates the proliferation of benign cells in the Prostate that leads to Enlarged Prostate). 

Triterpenic Acids

 Oleanolic Acid may alleviate Enlarged Prostate. 

 Ursolic Acid may alleviate Enlarged Prostate. 

Vitamins

 Vitamin C may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate.  ^[16]

Bee Foods

 Propolis may reduce the Inflammation associated with Enlarged Prostate (due to its Galangin content). 

Herbs

 Chaste Berry may help to prevent and treat Enlarged Prostate.  ^[17]

 Cocoa may help to prevent and treat Enlarged Prostate.  ^[18]

 Crinum latifolium may alleviate Enlarged Prostate.  ^[19]

 Echinacea may help to prevent Enlarged Prostate.  ^[20]

 Epilobium may “shrink” Enlarged Prostate:  ^[21]

 Epilobium contains two Polyphenols (Oenothein A and Oenothein B) which may inhibit the conversion of Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the 5-Alpha Reductase enzyme and this mechanism may underlie Epilobium’s ability to reverse Enlarged Prostate.