Johns Hopkins Health Alert
The Importance of a BPH-Friendly Diet
What can you do to prevent benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH? A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (Volume 167, page 925) suggests that diet, not dietary supplements, has the greatest impact on the development of BPH.
BPH is the noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland due to an increase in the number of prostate cells. What triggers BPH is not well understood, but aging and testosterone are believed to be the primary influences on its development. Animal studies suggest that the female sex hormone estrogen (produced in small amounts in men) also may play a role, perhaps when a man’s testosterone production declines and the balance of the two hormones is altered.
Taking dietary supplements has less impact on a man’s risk of developing BPH than does his overall eating pattern, according to an analysis of a subset of men who participated in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT).
The researchers studied 4,770 men who were in the placebo group in the PCPT and were free of BPH at the study’s outset. The men were monitored for the development of BPH over the seven years of the study and filled out a 15-page diet and supplement questionnaire a year into the trial. The questionnaire addressed the men’s typical consumption of various types of food and beverages, including alcohol. It also documented their use of antioxidant supplements (like vitamin E or selenium) and other supplements such as vitamin D and fish oil.
There was no association between the use of antioxidant supplements and the development of BPH and only limited evidence for a beneficial effect of lycopene, zinc or vitamin D. However, the risk of developing BPH was lower among men who followed diets high in protein and vegetables and low in total fat and red meat and who regularly consumed alcohol (two or more drinks per day).
The bottom line: If you want to reduce your risk of BPH, eating a healthy diet is more likely to help than taking dietary supplements.
Posted in Enlarged Prostate on August 4, 2009
Reviewed June 2011
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The last sentence is confusing - it seems to imply that two or more drinks per day is somehow beneficial in preventing BPH - however I believe that another study posted here said that two or more drinks per day tended to substantialy increase the chances for aggressive prostate cancer - so which is it - to drink or not to drink?
Posted by: oldjeff | August 8, 2009 6:33 AM
I recenlty had a prostate biopsy performed since my prostate is slightly enlarged. The doctor took several samples of the prostate and a week later she told me that the samples were benign, oh happy day.
I just read you article on bhp and have saved it for later re-reading and study. Thank you for the article.
EARNEY WRIGHT
averyw@juno.com
Posted by: EARNEY WRIGHT | August 8, 2009 7:02 AM
From the original abstract:
A diet low in fat and red meat and high in protein and vegetables, as well as regular alcohol consumption, may reduce the risk of symptomatic BPH.
So alcohol use of 2 or more drinks a day reduces risk of developing BPH.
Posted by: tsh | August 8, 2009 2:02 PM
Which is it, two drinks are or are not bad for BPH? What's a drink, 1 OZ, 1 beer, 1 glass of wine or what?
Posted by: donernst | August 8, 2009 2:13 PM
So....which is it?? 2 or more drinks per day is reducing my risk of BPH...or ....2 or more drinks a day significantly increase the risk of aggressive prostrate cancer as noted by soulfulpsy in the comments section.....I did not see this in a previous study....so....huge difference here...either less BPH or raising chances of agressive prostrate cancer w/2 or more drinks per day...????
Posted by: 60pottsgrove | August 10, 2009 9:52 AM
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I am not entirely clear about your concluding comment: "...high in protein and vegetables and low in total fat and red meat and who regularly consumed alcohol (two or more drinks per day)." Does this mean that men who have two or more drinks a day are benefiting from the drinks or that two or more drinks a day are harmful with regard to BHP.
If it is the former, how much impact does the alcohol consumption have? As a psychotherapist, I deal with many men who are alcohol dependent or abusive and some of them are prone to find reasons to continue drinking to excess. So, if alcohol is positive for BHP, I'd like to know how much it contributes compared to those following a low fat-low red meat diet who do not also consume alcohol.
Posted by: soulfulpsy | August 6, 2009 12:00 PM