The prostate is a small gland that helps produce seminal fluid in men, and is an important part of the male urinary system. It sits below the bladder, and wraps around the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. The prostate gland is very sensitive to the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Testosterone can be converted to a much more potent hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which stimulates prostate cell growth causing it to become larger in size. When the prostate becomes enlarged, it can cause urine stream difficulties due to its position. Over time, elevated levels of DHT and/or high levels of estrogen in the male body are thought to be two possible causes of benign (non-cancerous) prostate enlargement. Most men over 50 will have some symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and 90% of men over 85 have urinary difficulty from an enlarged prostate.
Herbal medicine and clinical nutrition have a long history of use in prostate health, and significant evidence of effectiveness. One therapeutic mode of action is to reduce the conversion of testosterone to DHT, thus decreasing prostate enlargement and therefore urinary difficulty. The activity of a specific enzyme called 5-alpha-reductaseis responsible for this conversion. This enzyme is targeted with pharmacological and/or botanical medicines to treat BPH. Saw Palmetto (Latin name serenoa repens) inhibits this enzyme, decreasing conversion to DHT and inhibiting intracellular binding. Saw Palmetto is also a phytoestrogen, and binds to estrogen receptors in the body. Receptor binding increases elimination of excess estrogen which has also been linked to prostate disorders. Other herbs that have clinical evidence of use for prostate health are rye pollen and lycopene.
This is a comprehensive adult men’s product formulated to provide botanical anti-inflammatory support to the prostate gland. Three capsules contain a therapeutic dose of saw palmetto, rye pollen extract, lycopene, anti-inflammatory herbs such as nettles and boswellia, and immune balancing phytosterols. The Prostate Optimizer also contains a moderate amount of EPA from high quality fish oil to further decrease inflammation and promote healthy cell function. For a full product description, see the manufacturers spec sheet here.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/437359-treatment#aw2aab6b6b2
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/enlargedprostatebph.html
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia
http://www.getwellhere.com/pdf/prostate-health.pdf
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Coastal Pharmacy & Wellness Staff
