Nutrition Stop - Mens Health

In the CLOVER

As men grow older, enlargement of their prostate gland, or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), becomes a common complaint. More than half of U.S. men between 60 and 70 have BPH, as do 90 percent of those at older ages. Frequent and difficult urination are usual symptoms of this noncancerous condition. Research by Aaron E. Katz, MD, at Columbia University School of Medicine in New York suggests that isoflavone-rich red clover (Trifolium pratense) can increase urine flow, since this herb appears to decrease prostate size. Several epidemiologic investigations have linked reduced incidence of both BPH and prostate cancer with diets rich in isoflavones, as well. With similar symptoms to BPH, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men - most often discovered after age 50. A small Australian study of men with non-metastic prostate cancer recently found that 160 mg. of red clover isoflavones taken in divided doses four times a day, increased cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells. While exactly how red clover isoflavones produce this cell death remains unclear, these findings lent support for plant-based strategies for prostate treatment. Other useful supplements for prostate health include saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), pygeum (P. africana), and curbicin (Cucurbita pepo) from pumpkin seeds. Because of the similarity in symptoms between benign and cancerous prostate enlargement, any man experiencing urination problems is advised to see his health care provider.