Supplement Godfather

Q. At my last physical the doctor shoved his finger up my ass! It turns out I’m at risk of developing an enlarged prostate. My doc hasn’t prescribed any medication, and I’m wondering if there any supplements I can take to help?

A. Well, you certainly aren’t alone. According to the Men’s Health Network, more than 30 million men worldwide suffer from some sort of prostate condition. In fact, each year over 230,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and approximately 30,000 men will die from it! Those are some pretty scary statistics, to say the least. But at least you’re on the right track by taking a proactive approach to prostate health by looking for natural preventative solutions.

Some of the best prostate support supplements include saw palmetto, stinging nettle, lycopene, green tea extract, and curcumin. Both saw palmetto and stinging nettle are fairly well-known prostate health supplements and work in the same way as the drug Proscar (finasteride) by preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body. DHT is the primary hormone involved in prostate enlargement. One study showed that a dosage of 160 milligrams of saw palmetto and 120 milligrams of stinging nettle could be just as effective as Proscar in preventing the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Lycopene is another of my favorite ingredients for prostate health. Lycopene is a carotenoid and is the pigment that gives many fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, their red color. Lycopene can also be found in watermelons, pink grapefruits, apricots, and pink guavas. Epidemiological research suggests that increased intake of lycopene from foods such as tomatoes is associated with a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.

A few studies have looked at the effects of lycopene supplements on prostate health. One study showed that men with existing prostate growth taking a lycopene supplement (4 milligrams) twice daily could help delay or prevent progression to prostate cancer. Another showed that taking a lycopene supplement (15 milligrams) twice daily could help prevent further prostate growth.

Preventative treatments are always a great alternative to pharmaceutical drugs that often cause unwanted side effects, but it’s also important to consult with your doctor or other health care practitioner if you do have any type of medical condition, especially a prostate condition. Green tea extract with a high EGCG content and turmeric with a high content of curcumin, which I already mentioned in this column, are also great prostate-support supplements.

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