Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Dietary patterns, supplement use, and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia

  • Published:
Current Urology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It has long been appreciated that a healthy lifestyle plays a critical role in cardiovascular health. It is now apparent that the same is true in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prospective cohort data originating from recently published randomized trials on the medical treatment of BPH and prevention of prostate cancer have been invaluable. A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise and the intake of specific macronutrients and micronutrients through regular diet play a beneficial role. Most strikingly, the magnitude of these effects is similar to medical therapies using α-blockers and 5-α-reductase inhibitors. The use of supplements for prostate disease is a multibillion dollar business in the United States, and supplements are more commonly prescribed than medical therapy in many countries. In contrast to consumption of micronutrients through regular diet, supplemental intake of micronutrients and phytotherapies currently lack evidence to support their efficacy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Bent S, Kane C, Shinohara K, et al.: Saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia. N Engl J Med 2006, 354:557–566.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Berry SJ, Coffey DS, Walsh PC, Ewing LL: The development of human benign prostatic hyperplasia with age. J Urol 1984, 132:474–479.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Roehrborn CG, McConnell JD: Benign prostatic hyperplasia: etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and natural history. In Campbell-Walsh Urology, edn 9. Edited by Wein AJ, Kavoussi LR, Novick AC, et al. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2006:2727.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Helfand BT, Evans RM, McVary KT: Medical treatment of LUTS/BPH: analysis of 8.7 million American men. AUA Abstracts J Urol 2009, 181:647.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cockett AT, Barry MJ, Holtgrewe HL, et al.: Indications for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The American Urological Association Study. Cancer 1992, 70:280–283.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wei JT, Calhoun E, Jacobsen SJ: Urologic Diseases in America project: benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 2005, 173:1256–1261.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Saigal CS, Joyce G: Economic costs of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the private sector. J Urol 2005, 173:1309–1313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hollingsworth JM, Wei JT: Economic impact of surgical intervention in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Rev Urol 2006, 8(Suppl 3):S9–S15.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ltd.: Ranbaxy receives tentative approval from US FDA for tamsulosin capsules. Available at http://www.ranbaxy.com/news/newsdisp.aspx?cp=844&flag=ARC. Accessed March 2009.

  10. Dreikorn K: The role of phytotherapy in treating lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia. World J Urol 2002, 19:426–435.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Food and Drug Administration Act: HR 15315, 92nd Cong, 2nd Sess (1972). Amended with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DHSEA) Public Law 103-417 (1994).

  12. De Smet PA: Herbal remedies. N Engl J Med 2002, 347:2046–2056.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. De Smet PA: Health risks of herbal remedies: an update. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2004, 76:1–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ko R, Wilson RD, Loscutoff S: PC-SPES. Urology 2003, 61:1292.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pitkin RM: Folate and neural tube defects. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 85:285S–288S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Holick MF, Chen TC: Vitamin D deficiency: a worldwide problem with health consequences. Am J Clin Nutr 2008, 87:1080S–1086S.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lippman SM, Klein EA, Goodman PJ, et al.: Effect of selenium and vitamin E on risk of prostate cancer and other cancers: the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). JAMA 2009, 301:39–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Blanker MH, Groeneveld FP, Prins A, et al.: Strong effects of definition and nonresponse bias on prevalence rates of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia: the Krimpen study of male urogenital tract problems and general health status. BJU Int 2000, 85:665–671.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kristal AR, Arnold KB, Schenk JM, et al.: Race/ethnicity, obesity, health related behaviors and the risk of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: results from the prostate cancer prevention trial. J Urol 2007, 177:1395–1400; quiz 1591.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Platz EA, Kawachi I, Rimm EB, et al.: Race, ethnicity and benign prostatic hyperplasia in the health professionals follow-up study. J Urol 2000, 163:490–495.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Barry MJ, Fowler FJ Jr, O’Leary MP, et al.: The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Measurement Committee of the American Urological Association. J Urol 1992, 148:1549–1557; discussion 1564.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Tsang KK, Garraway WM: Impact of benign prostatic hyperplasia on general well-being of men. Prostate 1993, 23:1–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Badia X, Rodriguez F, Carballido J, et al.: Influence of sociodemographic and health status variables on the American Urological Association symptom scores in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Urology 2001, 57:71–77.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Roehrborn CG, Oesterling JE, Auerbach S, et al.: The Hytrin Community Assessment Trial study: a one-year study of terazosin versus placebo in the treatment of men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. HYCAT Investigator Group. Urology 1996, 47:159–168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. McConnell JD, Roehrborn CG, Bautista OM, et al.: The long-term effect of doxazosin, finasteride, and combination therapy on the clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia. N Engl J Med 2003, 349:2387–2398.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Sech SM, Montoya JD, Bernier PA, et al.: The so-called “placebo effect“ in benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment trials represents partially a conditional regression to the mean induced by censoring. Urology 1998, 51:242–250.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Dedhia RC, McVary KT: Phytotherapy for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 2008, 179:2119–2125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Eikelis N, Schlaich M, Aggarwal A, et al.: Interactions between leptin and the human sympathetic nervous system. Hypertension 2003, 41:1072–1079.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Troisi RJ, Weiss ST, Parker DR, et al.: Relation of obesity and diet to sympathetic nervous system activity. Hypertension 1991, 17:669–677.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gordon GG, Altman K, Southren AL, et al.: Effect of alcohol (ethanol) administration on sex-hormone metabolism in normal men. N Engl J Med 1976, 295:793–797.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Dorgan JF, Judd JT, Longcope C, et al.: Effects of dietary fat and fiber on plasma and urine androgens and estrogens in men: a controlled feeding study. Am J Clin Nutr 1996, 64:850–855.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Nickel JC, Roehrborn CG, O’Leary MP, et al.: The relationship between prostate inflammation and lower urinary tract symptoms: examination of baseline data from the REDUCE trial. Eur Urol 2008, 54:1379–1384.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kramer G, Marberger M: Could inflammation be a key component in the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia? Curr Opin Urol 2006, 16:25–29.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Kramer G, Mitteregger D, Marberger M: Is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) an immune inflammatory disease? Eur Urol 2007, 51:1202–1216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. McVary KT: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and urinary retention. Lancet 2006, 367:195–196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Kristal AR, Arnold KB, Schenk JM, et al.: Dietary patterns, supplement use, and the risk of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: results from the prostate cancer prevention trial. Am J Epidemiol 2008, 167:925–934.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Suzuki S, Platz EA, Kawachi I, et al.: Intakes of energy and macronutrients and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia Am J Clin Nutr 2002, 75:689–697.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Platz EA, Rimm EB, Kawachi I, et al.: Alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Am J Epidemiol 1999, 149:106–115.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kang D, Andriole GL, Van De Vooren RC, et al.: Risk behaviours and benign prostatic hyperplasia. BJU Int 2004, 93:1241–1245.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Platz EA, Kawachi I, Rimm EB, et al.: Physical activity and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Arch Intern Med 1998, 158:2349–2356.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Meigs JB, Mohr B, Barry MJ, et al.: Risk factors for clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia in a community-based population of healthy aging men. J Clin Epidemiol 2001, 54:935–944.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Iannucci CV, Capoccia D, Calabria M, Leonetti F: Metabolic syndrome and adipose tissue: new clinical aspects and therapeutic targets. Curr Pharm Des 2007, 13:2148–2168.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Kasturi S, Russell S, McVary KT: Metabolic syndrome and lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Curr Urol Rep 2006, 7:288–292.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Rohrmann S, Smit E, Giovannucci E, Platz EA: Associations of obesity with lower urinary tract symptoms and noncancer prostate surgery in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Epidemiol 2004, 159:390–397.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Chute CG, et al.: Obesity and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Am J Epidemiol 1994, 140:989–1002.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Dahle SE, Chokkalingam AP, Gao YT, et al.: Body size and serum levels of insulin and leptin in relation to the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol 2002, 168:599–604.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Rohrmann S, Giovannucci E, Willett WC, Platz EA: Fruit and vegetable consumption, intake of micronutrients, and benign prostatic hyperplasia in US men. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 85:523–529.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Satia-Abouta J, Patterson RE, Schiller RN, Kristal AR: Energy from fat is associated with obesity in U.S. men: results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Prev Med 2002, 34:493–501.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Ambrosini GL, de Klerk NH, Mackerras D, et al.: Dietary patterns and surgically treated benign prostatic hyperplasia: a case control study in Western Australia. BJU Int 2008, 101:853–860.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Tavani A, Longoni E, Bosetti C, et al.: Intake of selected micronutrients and the risk of surgically treated benign prostatic hyperplasia: a case-control study from Italy. Eur Urol 2006, 50:549–554.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Rohrmann S, Smit E, Giovannucci E, Platz EA: Association between serum concentrations of micronutrients and lower urinary tract symptoms in older men in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Urology 2004, 64:504–509.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Johnson AR, Munoz A, Gottlieb JL, Jarrard DF: High dose zinc increases hospital admissions due to genitourinary complications. J Urol 2007, 177:639–643.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. DiPaola RS, Morton RA: Proven and unproven therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. N Engl J Med 2006, 354:632–634.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Ishani A, MacDonald R, Nelson D, et al.: Pygeum africanum for the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review and quantitative metaanalysis. Am J Med 2000, 109:654–664.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 6091 Gilbert Road, Suite 650, Richmond, British Columbia, V7C 5L9, Canada

    Kenneth S. Poon

Authors
  1. Kenneth S. Poon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kevin T. McVary
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenneth S. Poon.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Poon, K.S., McVary, K.T. Dietary patterns, supplement use, and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Curr Urol Rep 10, 279–286 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-009-0046-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-009-0046-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation