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Home > Health Conditions > Prostate Formulas >
| Comprehensive Prostate Formula is a complete nutritional
program for supporting prostate health with herbs, vitamins, minerals
and other nutrients known to benefit the prostate gland.
Herbs:
Saw palmetto extract--The Saw palmetto in Comprehensive Prostate Formula
is standardized to contain 85 to 90% fatty acids, which are the active
ingredients in the Saw palmetto berry that promote prostate health.
Three tablets supplies 320 mg, the daily dose used for prostate therapy
in clinical studies.1
Pygeum extract--Pygeum is an evergreen tree native to the high
plateaus of southern Africa. Pygeum bark contains phytosterols, beta
sitosterol and other sitosterols, natural sterols that have been shown
to normalize the prostate.2 Clinical trials
establish 100 mg per as a highly effective dose of Pygeum extract,
especially in combination with Nettle root.3
Nettle root extract--Nettle, also known as "Stinging Nettle," grows
wild in forests and fields throughout North America and Europe. Nettle
root has been researched in European studies and shown to benefit the
prostate and urinary tract. While the specific active ingredients in
Nettle for prostate support have not been positively identified,
Nettle's effect on the prostate may stem from its content of
polysaccharides and isolectin.4 300 mg per day is
a clinically effective dose of Nettle root extract.3
Amino acids--The combination of L-alanine, glutamic acid and glycine
were first used for prostate support in 1958. Two medical doctors
administered the amino acids to allergy patients who reported improvement in urinary function.5
Lycopene--Tomatoes are rich in carotenes, natural pigments responsible for the rich variety of colors in fruits and vegetables.
Lycopene gives the tomato fruit its red color. Recent research suggests
that lycopene may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.6(These findings, however, are strictly preliminary and await
confirmation through further research.)
Minerals--The human prostate contains a high concentration of zinc,
which is known to be a key mineral for prostate health.7
Selenium, an essential trace mineral, may play a role in cancer risk
reduction.8,9 Recent work by Harvard University
researchers showed that men with the highest levels of selenium were
less likely to develop prostate cancer than those with the lowest
selenium levels. Copper is added to balance zinc. When supplementing
with zinc, it is advised to take a small amount of additional copper to
prevent copper deficiency.
Vitamins--Vitamin E is added as an antioxidant and support for the
reproductive system. Vitamin B6 may benefit the prostate by reducing
excess levels of the hormone prolactin.10
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Helps maintain a healthy prostate gland.
Supports normal urinary function.
Comprehensive Prostate Formula-the Clinical Studies
Saw palmetto Extract
Saw palmetto extract is one of the world's leading herbal products for
prostate support. Widely-cited clinical studies conducted over the last
fifteen years suggest Saw palmetto extract can produce major
improvements in prostate-related urinary function. In clinical studies,
Saw palmetto extract has produced measurable improvements in urinary
functions and prostate size. Quality of life scores have also improved.
The results with Saw palmetto extract have been duplicated in open
trials and controlled, double-blind studies.11,12,13
For example, in a large open trial, 505 men took 320 mg of Saw
palmetto extract daily for three months.1 The
results were evaluated with various measurements such as the
International Prostate Symptom Score, the quality of life score, urinary
flow rates, residual urinary volume, and prostate size. After 45 days
these parameters improved significantly. After 90 days of treatment
nearly ninety percent of both the doctors and patients regarded Saw
palmetto extract as effective as therapy for the prostate.
The changes in prostate health that accompany middle age are related
to the hormone DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, a metabolite of
testosterone. DHT levels rise, and DHT binds to prostate cells,
accelerating growth of prostate tissue. Saw palmetto extract has been
shown to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase, an enzyme that controls conversion
of testosterone to DHT.14 Experimental evidence
suggests Saw palmetto extract blocks the binding of DHT to prostate
cells.15 The fatty acids and sterols in Saw
palmetto are believed to be responsible for these actions.14,16 These include oleic acid, lauric acid, campasterol, stigmasterol,
beta-sitosterol and others. Clinical studies have used extracts
containing 85 to 90 percent fatty acids and sterols.
Pygeum Extract
Like Saw palmetto, Pygeum contains natural sterols and fatty acids.2
Although the mechanisms for its effect have not been clearly
established, animal experiments suggest Pygeum may work by inhibiting
prostate cell proliferation and reducing inflammation.17,18 In several European trials, Pygeum has successfully improved
urinary function. In a large double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 263
men were given 100 mg of Pygeum extract a day for 60 days. Urination
improved in 66 percent of the men taking Pygeum, compared with 31
percent on placebo, based on subjective and objective tests.19
Nettle Root Extract
Nettles are approved by the German Commission E as effective for
relieving inflammation in the urinary tract.20 As
far back as 1950, German investigators have observed favorable effects
on the prostate with the use of Nettle root. These initial findings have
been confirmed through case studies, as well as double-blind studies,
published mainly in German medical journals. In a recent double blind
study published in the journal Clinical Therapeutics, 134 men took a
combination of Nettle root extract and Pygeum extract over a period of
56 days.3 Urination was significantly improved.
L-Alanine, Glutamic Acid and Glycine
As noted above, Drs. Feinblatt and Gant discovered that a combination of
the amino acids L-alanine, glutamic acid and glycine has a positive
effect on prostate-related urinary function.5 A
controlled study of 45 men was conducted to follow up on these initial
observations.21 The majority of subjects
experienced complete or partial relief in urinary complaints such as
nighttime urination and urgency.
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Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take 3 tablets daily.
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1. Braeckman, J., 'The extract of Serenoa repens in the treatment of
benign prostatic hyperplasia: a multicenter open study,' Current
Therapeutic Research 1994: 55(7):776-85.
2. Lawrence Review of Natural Products. Pygeum. Jan 1998. Facts and
Comparisons, St. Louis, MO.
3. Combined extracts of Urtica dioica and Pygeum africanum in the
treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: double-blind comparison of
two doses Clinical Therapeutics 1993; 15(6):1011-19.
4. Wagner, H., Willer, F., Samtleben, R., Boos, G. Search for the
antiprostatic principle of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) roots
Phytomedicine 1994; 1:213-224.
5. Feinblatt, H.M., Gant, J.D. Palliative treatment of benign prostatic
hypertrophy. Journal of the Maine Medical Association, March
1958:99-124.
6. Giovanni, E., et. al. Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation
to risk of prostate cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute
1995;87(23):1767-76.
7. Wallace, A.M., Grant, J.K. Effect of zinc on androgen metabolism in
the human hyperplastic prostate. Biochemical Society Transactions 1975;
3(3):540-42
8. Badmaev, V., Majeed, M., Passwater, R. Selenium: A quest for better
understanding. Alternative Therapies 1996; 2(4):59-67.
9. Fouhad, M.T. Selenium and cancer, chromium and diabetes: two trace
elements that have merits as dietary supplements in human nutrition.
Journal of Applied Nutrition 1979:31(1&2):14-17.
10. Vescovi, P.P., et. al. Pyridoxine (Vit. B6) decreases opoids-induced
hyperprolactinemia. Horm. metabol. Res. 1985; 17:46-47.
11. Tasca, A., et. al. Treatment of obstructive symptomatology caused by
prostatic adenoma with an extract of Serenoa repens. Double-blind
clinical study vs. placebo. Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica 1985;
37:87-91.
12. Champault, G., Bonnard, A.M., Cauquil, J., Patel, J.C. Medical
treatment of prostatic adenoma. A controlled test of PA 109 vs. placebo
in 110 patients. Ann. Urol. 1984; 18(6):407-410.
13. Crimi, A., Russo, A. The use of Serenoa repens extract in the
treatment of functional disturbances caused by prostate hypertrophy.
Med. Praxis 1983; 4:47-51.
14. NiederprŸm, H.J., Schweikert. H.U., ZŠnker, K.S. Testosterone 5
alpha-reductase inhibition by free fatty acids from Sabal serrulata
fruits. Phytomedicine 1994; 1:127-133.
15. Sultan, C., et. al. Inhibition of androgen metabolism and binding of
liposterolic extract of Serenoa repens B in human foreskin fibroblasts.
J. Steroid Biochem. 1984; 20(1):515-519.
16. Weissner, H., et. al. Effects of the Sabal serrulata extract IDS 9
and its subfractions on 5 alpha-reductase activity in human benign
prostatic hyperplasia. The Prostate 1996;28:300-06.
17. Yablonsky, F. Nicolas, V., Riffaud, J.P., Bellamy, F.
Antiproliferative effect of Pygeum africanum on rat prostatic
fibroblasts. J. of Urology 1997; 157:2381-87.
18. Marconi, M. et. al. Anti-inflammatory action of Pygeum extract in
the rat. Farmaci. & Terapia. 1986; 3:135.
19. Barlet, A, et. al. Efficacy of Pygeum africanum extract in the
treatment of micturational disorders due to benign prostatic
hyperplasia. Evaluation of objective and subjective parameters. A
multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial. Wien. Klin. Wocheschr.
1990; 22:667-73.
20. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. 1998, Blumenthal, M.,
ed., (p.216) Austin, TX: American Botanical Council.
21. Damrau, F. Benign prostatic hypertrophy: amino acid therapy for
symptomatic relief. American Journal of Geriatrics 1962; 10:426-30.
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