BPH

So called Benign Prostatic Hyperthrophy or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia ( BPH ) is the proliferation of prosthetic gland stroma, resulting in obstruction of urine outflow from urinary bladder.  Causes arent clear.  Some scientists believe that it is estrogen, that actually does this.  Others believe that androgen's like testosterone and especially dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ) are playing the major role in BPH formation.  The latest theory is: BPH is caused by abnormally high testosterone concentration in the prostate gland due to internal spermatic vein valves malfunction(1).
We can argue about the causes of BPH, but one thing is crystal clear: BPH in the result of Western life style.

Dietary suggestions for BPH:

  1.  Eat organic to avoid pesticides.
  2. Increase consumption of fruits(2), cold water fish, provided that it is not toxic because of mercury (3), increase protein intake, especially vegetable protein.
  3. Increase fermented soy consumption (4).
  4. Avoid caffeine and alcohol (5), butter and margarine, carbohydrates, especially refined, animal fats, cholesterol rich products.

OF course diet alone cannot solve the whole BPH problem.  Hormonal imbalance as well as risk for prostate cancer have to be investigated.  To figure out what is going on you need to see Functional Medicine Doctor to go to the root cause of the problem and elimiate it.

References:

  1. Gat, Y.; Gornish, M.; Heiblum, M.; Joshua, S. (2008). "Reversal of benign prostate hyperplasia by selective occlusion of impaired venous drainage in the male reproductive system: novel mechanism, new treatment". Andrologia 40 (5): 273–81. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.2008.00883.x. PMID 18811916.
  2. Lagiou, Wuu, Trichopoulou.  Diet and benign prostatic hypdrthrophy: a study in Greece.  Urology 1999, 90: 649-654.
  3. Hart, Cooper.  Vitamin F in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperthrophy.  Report 1. Milwaukee, WI.  Lee Foundation for nutritional research, 1941.
  4. Berges, Windler, Tramisch.  Randomised, placebo controlled double blind clinical trial of beta sitosterol in patient with benigh prostatic hyperplasia.  Beta sitosterol study group. Lancet, 1995, 345: 1529-1532.
  5.  Gass.  Benigh prostatic hyperplasia: the opposite effects of alcohol and coffee intake.  British Journal of Urology International 2002, 90: 649-654.