How Prostate Disease Occurs and How to Prevent it 03/27/09

How Does The Aging Process Affect Prostate Disease?

At age 40 the prostate gland speeds up the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

High levels of DHT cause prostate cells to replicate rapidly causing prostate enlargement and increasing the risk that prostate cancer may emerge.

A such, from age 40 to 80  ninety percent of men eventually develop enlarged prostate symptoms and one in eight men in North America develop prostate cancer, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in men after lung cancer

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include, decreased urine stream, urgency to urinate, but difficulty in initiating a urine stream, frequent urination, and frequent night-time urination.

Are There Supplements That Can Protect The Prostate?

Yes, clinical studies show that a number of natural agents can block the build up of DHT, and thereby slow the rate of prostate cell division

These natural agents, therefore, help prevent prostate enlargement, have been shown to reverse prostate enlargement in men with diagnosed mild to moderate enlargement problems (BPH), and block important steps involved in prostate cancer development

The most important supplement ingredients to support prostate health include:
•    Saw Palmetto – must be standardized to 45% fatty acid and sterols – 320-640 mg per day
•    Pygeum Africanum – must be standardized to at least 12% triterpene content – 100-200 mg per day
•    Beta-sitosterol – 60-150 mg per day
•    Soy Extract – yielding 15-40 mg of isoflavones per day
•    Stinging Nettle (4:1 extract) – 30-60 mg
•    Lycopene Extract – 10-25 mg

See Dr. Meschino’s Prostate Support Supplement

In my opinion all men over 40 should take a prostate support supplement with these ingredients and dosages each day to help reduce the build up of DHT, provide key antioxidant protection (soy isoflavones and lycopene) and protect prostate cells in a multi-faceted way

What Dietary Factors Also Help?

From a dietary and lifestyle standpoint the following practices are also associated with decreased risk of prostate cancer:

1. Eat a low animal fat diet and avoid panfried meats
2. No more than 3 alcoholic drinks per week
3. Consume at least one cruciferous vegetable each day (broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy Brussels sprouts, turnips, cabbage)
4. Eat soy foods regularly
5. Eat cooked tomatoes 2-3 times per week (e.g. tomato sauce)
6. Eat fish at least twice per week and take a supplement each day containing borage seed, flaxseed and fish oil (see Nature’s Essential Oils – Adeeva)
7. Take 1000 IU per day of vitamin D, unless you suffer from sarcoidosis or hyperparathyroidism
8. Maintain a waist circumference of no greater than 36 inches
9. Maintain aerobic fitness
10. Take a high potency multiple vitamin and mineral each day (see Multivitamin and Mineral – Adeeva)