The Best Prostate Health Supplements

Are you looking for the best prostate health supplements? If so, we have gathered some of the best herbal supplements and other supplements that are often used to support prostate health.

The Prostate Gland In a Nutshell

Every man is born with a tiny, muscular gland called the prostate. This gland is responsible for several functions within the male body.

For one, it aids the production of the compounds found in semen. It is also responsible for making sure that this semen makes its way through the urethra, aka allowing for the process of ejaculation.[1]

Another prominent role of the prostate is keeping the proper function of the male reproductive system. Collectively, the prostate affects the overall fertility in men. Additionally, the gland also assists in the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, its known biologically active form.[2]

Best Supplements for Prostate Health

There are several natural ways to keep the prostate gland in its tip-top shape. Keeping a prostate-friendly diet, staying active, and avoiding any activities that may cause harm to the prostate are among the top ways.

But when it comes to nutrition, more often than not, it’s difficult to get all the nutrients we need from diet alone.

Keeping an eye on your prostate health should be a lot easier by finding the right supplements to take. For that reason, below are some of the most promising herbal supplements for prostate health.

Saw Palmetto For Prostate Health

Saw palmetto is a tree native to Southeast North American soil. It often grows in the hills and soils of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coastal.

It is a fan palm that bears fruit in the form of berries. These berries are extracted to create saw palmetto supplements.

Saw palmetto is a natural herb that comes with a number of health benefits. As a supplement, it may combat hair loss, assist in blood pressure regulation, and assist in different aspects of sexual health, among others.

Saw palmetto and prostate health are often linked together, as the extract is believed to pose several benefits on this aspect of male health. Back in the day, the saw palmetto berries are consumed to treat prostate issues.

Fast forward to today and saw palmetto supplements are still the most popular for use in keeping prostate health in check. For one, the extract is mainly used in treating and easing the symptoms of prostate-related conditions.

Saw palmetto extract may have the mechanisms to effectively prevent the development of cancer in the prostate. This effect of the herb has been subjected to one research where it showcased efficacy in preventing prostate cancer growth.[3]

Supplementing on saw palmetto is also known to aid the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or the nonmalignant growth of the prostate.[4] This effect of the supplement may be due to its phytotherapeutic properties and the ability to combat lower urinary tract symptoms.[5]

Bee Pollen For Prostate Health

Bee pollen is a byproduct of honeybees that come is small ball-shapes or pellets. These pellets consist of field-gathered pollens which are normally used as the major food source of a beehive.

Bee pollen is packed with simple sugars, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. These components of the pellets are what makes them among the most sought-after superfoods today.

As a dietary supplement, bee pollen may pose several benefits for different health aspects. It may work as an antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. It may also have hepatoprotective and anticancer properties.[6]

As an aid in prostate-related health conditions, bee pollen may execute wonders. In fact, bee pollen for prostate health has been subjected to several studies in recent years.

Bee pollen may soothe inflammatory conditions involving the prostate gland. It is effective in soothing non-bacterial prostate inflammation by removing the pain. It may also help in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.[7]

Additionally, bee pollen may have the ability to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. In a study, the supplement has been shown to induce apoptosis of cancer cells in the prostate.[8]

Zinc And Prostate Health

Zinc is a micronutrient famously marketed toward male health. It is often found in red meat, shellfish, legumes, seeds, and eggs.

This mineral is essentially popular for its benefits on male health. In fact, zinc is a known male enhancer and aphrodisiac. It is also looked at in several studies as a treatment for conditions that occur in the male population.

Zinc for prostate health has been a common subject of debate in the past decades. Many argue whether or not the micronutrient is especially beneficial for the prostate.

Recent studies show that moderately high levels of zinc are essential for the prostate. This is due to the mechanism of the micronutrient to inhibit terminal oxidation and the induction of mitochondrial apoptogenesis.[9]

In simpler terms, zinc prevents cell death and deterioration. This mechanism of zinc may be especially helpful in terms of DNA repair and tumor suppression in the prostate.[10]

Moreover, zinc is present in the prostate in high concentrations, especially in the prostatic fluid. This suggests that zinc itself may be essential for the maintenance of prostate health.[11]

Lycopene And Prostate Health

Lycopene is a naturally occurring carotenoid found in fruits and vegetables. It is more commonly found in high amounts in tomatoes.

Lycopene is praised for its several health benefits, most especially on heart health. This carotenoid is also popular for its possible role in combating cancer.

Lycopene for prostate health as also been looked at in several studies. In one study, lycopene showed significant impacts on decreasing the risk of prostate cancer development.[12]

Moreover, a diet rich in lycopene has been found to reduce the aggressive progression of prostate cancer. The carotenoid has also been found to be effective in inhibiting the neo-angiogenesis of prostate tumors.[13]

Maca And Prostate Health

Maca is a superfood that is recently rising as a supplement due to its amazing benefits for all health aspects. This herb is mostly marketed towards male health, and a few studies show that it may also benefit the prostate.

Additionally, the consumption of cruciferous crops has been associated with reducing the risk of prostate cancer. Maca is a cruciferous vegetable that is rich in glucosinolate, which has antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties. Combined, these mechanisms may be effective in inhibiting the development of prostate tumors.[14]

An animal study conducted on rodents examined the effects of maca on the zinc levels of the prostate. The said study pointed out that the herb reduced both the prostate size and zinc levels on the subjects, therefore concluding that maca administration may be beneficial in keeping the prostate health in check.[15]

However, take note that only the red variety of maca posed the said benefits on the prostate.

Ashwagandha And Prostate Health

Ashwagandha is an herb popularly used in Ayurvedic medicine. The herb is especially praised for its amazing benefits in improving strength, stamina, and the immune system.

Supplementing ashwagandha may go beyond just the basics. This Ayurvedic staple may also benefit the prostate in different ways.

One study examined the comprehensive effects of ashwagandha intake on prostate health. The said study noted that the herb has the ability to regulate highly invasive prostate cancer cells.[16] In other words, supplementing ashwagandha may inhibit the development and decrease the risk of prostate cancer.

Moreover, ashwagandha has mechanisms that may act as an immunomodulator. This may be effective in promoting prostate cancer cell death. The herb may also downregulate the expression of certain transactivators that pro-cancer cells.[17]

Korean Red Ginseng and Prostate Health

Korean red ginseng is a powerful herb most popularly used in Traditional Asian Medicine. It also happens to be an herb that is famous for its favorable benefits on male health.

Among this herb’s benefits include improved strength, stamina, and virility. Popular towards sexual male health, Korean red ginseng also happens to pose benefits to the prostate.

In fact, the effect of the herb in combating prostate-related issues has been looked at in several studies.

In one study, Korean red ginseng has been found to proliferate the growth of cancer cells. The herb has also been found to pharmacological effects on reducing the growth of the prostate. This is essentially helpful in preventing the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.[18]

A study was also conducted to test the effects of Korean red ginseng on rodents with testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia. The study pointed out that the ginseng may influence and decrease prostate size and inhibit the further development of benign prostatic hyperplasia.[19]

Tongkat Ali And Prostate Health

Tongkat Ali is another herb most commonly used in Traditional Asian Medicine. It is well known as a natural aphrodisiac, and most of its health benefits are marketed towards male health and virility.

Tongkat Ali has also been looked at as a possible treatment for cases that involved cancer. In fact, a few studies revealed that the herb may encourage toxicity toward breast cancer cells, making it an essential chemotherapeutic agent.[20]

Another study investigated the in vitro and in vivo activities of Tongkat Ali when it comes to fighting cancer. This study has found that the herb selectively induces cytotoxicity on human prostate cancer cells.[21]

The same study has also shown the ability to inhibit the growth of these cancer cells, therefore noting that the herb may work as an effective chemotherapeutic agent in prostate cancer cases.[22]

References   [ - ]

1, 2.	↑	How does the prostate work? (2016, August 23). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279291
3.	↑	Scholtysek, C., Krukiewicz, A. A., Alonso, J.-L., Sharma, K. P., Sharma, P. C., & Goldmann, W. H. (2009, February 13). Characterizing components of the Saw Palmetto Berry Extract (SPBE) on prostate cancer cell growth and traction. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19059205
4.	↑	Roehrborn, C. G. (2005). Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: An Overview. Reviews In Urology, 7(9), 3-14. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1477638/
5.	↑	Fagelman, E. & Lowe, F. C. (2001). Saw Palmetto Berry as a Treatment for BPH. Reviews in Urology, 3(3), 134-138. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1476047/
6, 7.	↑	Komosinska-Vassev, K., Olczyk, P., Kaźmierczak, J., Mencner, L., & Olczyk, K. (2015). Bee pollen: chemical composition and therapeutic application. doi: 10.1155/2015/297425
8.	↑	Wu, Y.-D., & Lou, Y.-J. (2007, November). A steroid fraction of chloroform extract from bee pollen of Brassica campestris induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17639562
9, 10.	↑	Wu, Y.-D., & Lou, Y.-J. (2007, November). A steroid fraction of chloroform extract from bee pollen of Brassica campestris induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e32833106ee
11.	↑	Wu, Y.-D., & Lou, Y.-J. (2007, November). A steroid fraction of chloroform extract from bee pollen of Brassica campestris induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. DOI: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e32833106ee
12.	↑	Chen, P., Zhang, W., Wang, X., Zhao, K., Negi, D. S., Zhuo, L., … Zhang, X. (2015, August). Lycopene and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001260
13.	↑	Zu, K., Mucci, L., Rosner, B. A., Clinton, S. K., Loda, M., Stampfer, M. J., & Giovannucci, E. (2014, February). Dietary lycopene, angiogenesis, and prostate cancer: a prospective study in the prostate-specific antigen era. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djt430
14.	↑	Gonzales, G. F., Miranda, S., Nieto, J., Fernández, G., Yucra, S., Rubio, J., … Gasco, M. (2005, January 20). Red maca (Lepidium meyenii) reduced prostate size in rats. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-3-5
15.	↑	Gonzales, C., Leiva-Revilla, J., Rubio, J., Gasco, M., & Gonzales, G. F. (2012, May). Effect of red maca (Lepidium meyenii) on prostate zinc levels in rats with testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21762188
16, 17.	↑	Aalinkeel, R., Hu, Z., Nair, B. B., Sykes, D. E., Reynolds, J. L., Mahajan, S. D., & Schwartz, S. A. (2010, June). Genomic Analysis Highlights the Role of the JAK-STAT Signaling in the Anti-proliferative Effects of Dietary Flavonoid-‘Ashwagandha’ in Prostate Cancer Cells. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nem184
18.	↑	Bae, J.-S., Park, H.-S., Park, J.-W., Li, S.-H., & Chun, Y.-S. (2012, July). Red ginseng and 20(S)-Rg3 control testosterone-induced prostate hyperplasia by deregulating androgen receptor signaling. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22101440
19.	↑	Kim, S. K., Chung, J.-H., Lee, B.-C., Lee, S. W., Lee, K. H., & Kim, Y. O. (2014, December). Influence of Panax ginseng on Alpha-Adrenergic Receptor of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.  doi: 10.5213/inj.2014.18.4.179
20.	↑	Abouhamraa, & Hamza. (1970, January 1). Effect of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) on the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Retrieved from https://etd.uwc.ac.za/xmlui/handle/11394/3201
21, 22.	↑	Tong, K. L., Chan, K. L., AbuBakar, S., Low, B. S., Ma, H. Q., & Wong, P. F. (2015, March 31). The in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer activities of a standardized quassinoids composition from Eurycoma longifolia on LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25826409