Essential Ingredients

There are many prostate supplements on the market, more than we can ever review. Here we have analyzed the most popular ones to give you a sense of what to look for in choosing the right supplement for you.

What’s the difference between standardized extracts and powders?

A good DHT blocker uses standardized extracts and not just herb powders. Standardization ensures that there is a certain percentage of active ingredient that you’re getting.

For example, 1500mg of saw palmetto berry is not the same as 1500mg of 90% standardized saw palmetto extract or even 750 mg of 50% standardized saw palmetto extract. Typically, saw palmetto berry powders have at most 8.5% free fatty acids. Link to article: #1. You have to multiply the amount by the percent standardized to get the mass of active free fatty acids. With 1500mg of saw palmetto berry you are getting a maximum of 127.5mg fatty acids.

What ingredients should a prostate supplement have?

A good prostate supplement should:

1. Inhibit 5-alpha-reductase from producing DHT which inflames and irritates the prostate
2. Have anti-inflammatory ingredients to reduce swelling of the prostate
3. Provide the prostate with essential vitamins and nutrients

1.What ingredients block DHT?

1. Saw Palmetto which inhibits the production of DHT. Herbmed.org Link to study #1, #2, #3
2. Beta-sitosterol is an even more important DHT blocker because it binds to 5-alpha-reductase and prevents it from turning testosterone into DHT. Link to Study #1, #2,
3. Quercetin helps traditional DHT blockers such as finasteride: Link to study #1, #2
4. Pygeum africanum is another DHT blocker: Link to study #1, #2, #3
5. Stinging Nettle, or Urtica dioica, has significant DHT inhibiting properties as well. This well documented herb has had hundreds of positive studies done on it that are accessible via herbmed.
6. Pumpkin Seed Oil has also been found to help with BPH. Link to study #1, #2

2. What ingredients reduce inflammation?

According to Schneider and Bucar in “Lipoxygenase inhibitors from natural plant sources. Part 1: Medicinal plants with inhibitory activity on arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase[sol ]cyclooxygenase,” inhibition the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme (a key enzyme in the body’s inflammation response) by antioxidants is common. This is because of its non-heme iron atom in the active site of the enzyme. Many 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors simply act as nonselective anti-oxidants by reducing the active-site ferric iron and
thus interrupting the enzyme.

1. Lycopene is probably the most well-known anti-oxidant. Its consumption has been shown to reduce Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) scores. Link to study #1, #2
2. Boswellia serrata is one of these inflammation reducers and is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to reduce inflammation caused by joint problems.
3. Stinging Nettle, or Urtica dioica, also has notable inflammation-reducing abilities. Link to article #1
4. Green tea is known for its anti-oxidant abilities and has been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Link to study #1
5. Ginger is typically used in Eastern medicine to ease inflammation.
6. Cat’s claw, or Uncaria tomentosa, is another ingredient that displays antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Study #1
7. Red raspberry has anthocyanins that display astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. Link to article #1
8. Rosemary has antioxidants such as carnosic and rosmarinic acid.

3. What nutrients does the prostate need?

1. Zinc is an important nutrient for prostate health because it is used in a number of cellular metabolic processes. Patients with prostate cancer tend to have low levels of zinc in the prostate. Link to study #1
2. Selenium is a mineral that boosts the body’s antioxidant capacity and helps to defend the prostate from free-radicals
3. Vitamin C helps and lessens the effects of bacterial infections.
4. Although controversial, many claim that Vitamin-E helps reduce prostate cancer risks.