Prostate Health

Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects most men over 60 and causes weak stream, urgency and nocturia. Effective treatments exist: alpha-blockers work within days, and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors shrink the gland over months. The critical caveat is diagnostic — saw palmetto and finasteride affect PSA interpretation, and symptoms alone cannot distinguish BPH from prostate cancer. Any new urinary symptoms, blood in urine or semen, or bone pain needs medical assessment, not a supplement trial.

1) Get assessed before self-treating — symptom overlap between BPH, infection and prostate cancer is substantial. 2) Behavioural steps first: limit fluids in the evening, cut caffeine and alcohol, treat constipation, and try double voiding and timed voiding. 3) Exercise and weight loss reduce symptom progression; central obesity and metabolic syndrome worsen BPH. 4) Beta-sitosterol 60-130mg/day has the most favourable Cochrane data among supplements for symptom scores. 5) Pygeum africanum shows modest benefit for nocturia and flow. 6) Do not rely on saw palmetto: high-quality NIH-funded trials found it no better than placebo even at triple doses. 7) Escalate to alpha-blockers or 5-ARIs when symptoms affect quality of life — they outperform every supplement here.

• •Evening fluid restriction
• •Caffeine and alcohol reduction
• •Weight management
• •Regular exercise
• •Treating constipation
• •Timed and double voiding
• •Pelvic floor training