Doctor Answers: What are The Best Prostatitis Supplements?

If you’ve been seeking effective ways to manage or prevent prostatitis, you may have questions about how natural prostate supplements and vitamins could help. Prostatitis presents with lower urinary tract symptoms that range from mild to severe, and a significant proportion of men with prostatitis will experience a considerable reduction in quality of life that often requires treatment.

We spoke with Dr. Justin Houman, a physician who specializes in prostate health, to explore evidence-based, natural approaches to prostatitis. During the interview, Dr. Houman shared insights on how plant-based supplements, such as zinc, saw palmetto, Cernilton, quercetin, Pygeum, vitamin C, and probiotics, have been studied for managing or preventing this condition. Dr. Houman also provided a collection of resources and references to support these findings.

Additionally, a medical doctor has thoroughly reviewed all information in this discussion to ensure accuracy and reliability. Below, you will find our interview with Dr. Houman, highlighting what prostatitis is, its symptoms, and how specific prostatitis supplements may be beneficial.

Q: What is Prostatitis?

Dr. Houman answers: Prostatitis is swelling and inflammation of the prostate gland. It’s a relatively common condition that can develop in men of all ages. The exact causes of prostatitis aren’t always clear, but most cases involve local inflammation in the pelvic region, while bacterial infections cause a smaller percentage.

There are four types of prostatitis, each originating from different sources:

1. Chronic prostatitis (also known as chronic pelvic pain syndrome)
2. Chronic bacterial prostatitis
3. Acute bacterial prostatitis (often presenting suddenly)
4. Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis

Although the symptomatic types share many features, each type has certain distinct signs. Typically, the severity of symptoms is measured using the National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI score). In research, the NIH-CPSI score often serves as a benchmark for evaluating the efficacy of various treatments.

Q: What are the symptoms of prostatitis?

Dr. Houman answers:The symptoms of prostatitis vary depending on the specific type and source of inflammation. With the exception of asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, which has no overt signs, most men experience:

• Frequent urination and nocturia: Because a swollen prostate can press against the urethra and irritate the bladder, you may feel the urge to urinate even when the bladder contains only small amounts of urine.
• Decreased urine flow: Some men notice a weak urine stream or dribbling at the end of urination, making it harder to empty the bladder. This can increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Ejaculatory pain or difficulty: Prostatitis often leads to pain and discomfort during or after ejaculation.
• Pelvic pain: Discomfort can occur around the pelvic area, including the genitals, testicles, rectum, and bladder.
• Blood in urine and semen.
• Bowel disturbances.

Certain symptoms are more specific to each type of prostatitis:

• Chronic prostatitis (chronic pelvic pain syndrome): As research indicates, this involves nerve irritation around the pelvic area. Patients often have a higher risk of allergies, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and anxiety disorders.
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis: Caused by a bacterial infection and commonly leads to a burning sensation during urination.
• Acute bacterial prostatitis: Another bacterial form that presents suddenly, often accompanied by chills, fever, and foul-smelling urine.
• Asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis: Involves inflammation of the prostate without symptoms, usually discovered incidentally when testing for other conditions.

Q: What are the Recommended Supplements for Prostatitis?

Dr. Houman, answers: Natural and plant-based compounds have increasingly drawn interest for their potential role in managing prostatitis. While research continues, several supplements show promise in easing symptoms and possibly reducing inflammation. Below, I’ll discuss the most notable ones:

Zinc

Zinc is essential for many bodily processes and has catalytic, regulatory, and structural roles. The research confirms that the prostate gland naturally contains the highest amount of zinc compared to other organs, suggesting a key function in normal prostate health.

Study reveals that low zinc levels can induce oxidative stress and DNA damage, factors implicated in prostate conditions. According to research, prostatitis tissues often exhibit reduced zinc content, hinting at zinc’s relevance in the development and progression of the disease.

A randomized control trial by Deng et al. (2004) examined the effects of adding organic zinc to standard antibiotic therapy in chronic bacterial prostatitis. Those receiving zinc alongside antibiotics experienced significantly reduced pain, fewer urinary symptoms, and improved maximum urethra closure pressure compared with antibiotics alone.

Similarly, Goodarzi et al. (2013) investigated oral zinc sulfate (220 mg daily) in patients with chronic prostatitis. After 12 weeks, participants in the zinc group showed marked improvement in NIH-CPSI scores and pain index, reinforcing that zinc supplements can be beneficial for prostatitis.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is rich in free fatty acids and has historically been used worldwide to promote prostate health. Early studies compared its activity to finasteride (a common pharmaceutical treatment), but results have been mixed.

• Kaplan et al. (2004) compared saw palmetto with finasteride in men with chronic prostatitis over one year and found no statistically significant benefit for saw palmetto. However, many participants chose to continue using saw palmetto even after the study.
• Reissigl et al. (2003) tested a specific saw palmetto extract known as Permixon in 61 patients with chronic prostatitis. Sixty-five percent of those taking Permixon reported symptom improvements in NIH-CPSI scores, reduced pain, and better voiding.

While saw palmetto may help alleviate prostatitis symptoms, more research is needed to determine optimal dosages and understand which extract components are most effective.

Cernilton

Cernilton is a pollen extract that appears to offer urological benefits through its anti-inflammatory properties. Since prostatitis involves inflammation, Cernilton may help reduce symptoms.

• Rugendorff et al. (1993) documented a 78% improvement in chronic prostatitis symptoms using Cernilton.
• A more recent multicenter, randomized, double-blind study by Florian and colleagues found that men taking Cernilton showed significant improvements in pain, quality of life, and NIH-CPSI scores compared to a placebo group.

Such findings point to Cernilton as a viable treatment alternative for men with prostatitis.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a natural flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects (Baghel et al., 2012). Because inflammation is a major component of prostatitis, quercetin has been studied for this condition.

• Shoskes et al. (1999) conducted a randomized, double-blind trial involving men with chronic prostatitis. Participants receiving 500 mg of quercetin twice daily for one month saw a significant drop in NIH-CPSI scores compared to the placebo group.
• In Shoskes et al. (2002) research, a similar quercetin dosage again demonstrated symptom improvement, suggesting quercetin may be a valuable option in managing prostatitis.

Pygeum

Pygeum is an extract derived from the bark of the African prune tree. According to the study, Its fat-dissolvable components can modulate androgen activity and reduce inflammation in prostate tissue.

A study by Carani et al. (1991) reported that 200 mg of Pygeum daily for 60 days improved urinary symptoms in prostatitis. Combining Pygeum with standard antibiotic therapy appeared to offer even more significant benefits, indicating this extract may complement conventional treatments.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is involved in numerous bodily functions, such as protein production, wound healing, and nutrient absorption. It’s also a potent antioxidant. Prostate tissue can be highly susceptible to oxidative stress, and patients with prostatitis often show elevated levels of reactive oxygen species.

Research suggests vitamin C supplementation might alleviate oxidative stress in the prostate:

• Xu et al. (2005) found that vitamin C improved prostatitis symptoms in animal models.
• Kullisaar et al. (2008) demonstrated that human participants taking vitamin C in combination with other therapies showed symptom improvement.

Probiotics

Probiotics contain “good” bacteria that can help rebalance the microbial environment in the urinary tract. Animal studies (Fraga et al., 2005) show that introducing beneficial bacteria directly into the bladder may prevent or combat UTIs, which can contribute to prostatitis.

A 2019 study by Chiancone et al. compared men taking probiotics plus saw palmetto to those taking saw palmetto alone. At weeks 24 and 36, the probiotic group had fewer prostatitis episodes and lower NIH-CPSI scores, indicating that probiotics could be a supportive therapy, especially for bacterial prostatitis. Whether probiotics benefit non-bacterial prostatitis is still under investigation.

Prostate Healer

Prostate Healer is a safe, proprietary, unique blend of the world’s 9 most powerful prostate healing and rejuvenating herbs. Concentrated extracts of these herbs have been blended into a powerful and effective tincture.

Each ingredient has been thoroughly researched and scientifically proven to improve and maintain prostate health.

Punarnava, for example, has been shown to improve urinary symptoms associated with BPH and inhibit prostate growth.

Prostate Healer is formulated to effectively combat BPH and prostatitis and provide symptomatic relief from urgency, frequency, and nocturia. It works on the prostate, kidney, and bladder simultaneously, coaxing cells gently to resume normal function.

So, by this action, you’re fighting against prostatitis and BPH. If you’re like many men that use the formula, you’ll see a reduction in the number of times you get up to go to the bathroom to urinate, plus see an improvement in the flow of your urine.

Why Choose Ben’s Natural Health?

At Ben’s Natural Health, our motto is to combine holistic healing with modern science.

Ben’s Natural Health is the world’s first high-quality, all-natural, scientifically proven clinical supplement company. Our supplements are effective, natural and 100% side effect free.

Moreover, at Ben’s Natural Health, we have four rules for all our supplements:

• We only use the highest quality ingredients
• We only use them if they have been proven to work in independent, peer-reviewed double-blind studies
• With all our supplements, we find a way to get every ingredient into a single bottle
• We always formulate them in clinically significant doses of the most bioavailable form

We pride ourselves on offering excellent customer service. We offer a free health consultation where you can ask questions and receive tailored advice from our expert health consultants. 

Key Patient Questions on Prostatitis Supplements

Q: Are there any interactions between prostatitis supplements and prescription medications?

Dr. Houman answers:

Yes, certain prostatitis supplements can interact with prescription medications. For example:

• Saw Palmetto, a common ingredient in natural prostate formulas, may have mild blood-thinning effects and can potentially amplify the effects of anticoagulants like warfarin or aspirin.
• Quercetin, often used for its anti-inflammatory benefits in chronic prostatitis, can interact with antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, altering how the medication is metabolized.
• Zinc, another popular supplement, can interfere with the absorption of certain antibiotics like tetracyclines or quinolones if taken at the same time.

Bottom line: while natural supplements can be beneficial, it’s essential to consult your urologist or prescribing physician before starting them, especially if you’re on antibiotics, blood thinners, or medications for chronic pain or inflammation.

Q: Are natural supplements safer than prescription medications for prostatitis?

Dr. Houman answers: The answer isn’t black and white; it depends on the patient and the specific condition being treated. Natural supplements like saw palmetto, quercetin, and pollen extract have shown promise in supporting prostate health and reducing inflammation with fewer side effects compared to some prescription drugs. 

That said, “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe”; some supplements can interact with medications or may not be appropriate for all patients. 

For mild or chronic prostatitis, especially in cases like chronic pelvic pain syndrome, a well-formulated natural supplement can be an excellent first step or complementary approach. But it’s always best to talk with a healthcare provider to make sure it’s right for you and part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Q: Are there any dietary restrictions while taking prostatitis supplements?

Dr. Houman answers: I generally don’t impose strict dietary restrictions while patients are taking prostatitis supplements like those from Ben’s Natural Health; however, I do recommend avoiding inflammatory foods that can worsen symptoms. 

This includes limiting alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, and processed sugars, all of which may irritate the bladder or prostate and counteract the benefits of the supplements. 

Instead, I advise focusing on a prostate-friendly diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, berries, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds to support the supplement’s effectiveness and promote overall prostate health.

Q: Is it necessary to continue prostatitis supplements indefinitely once symptoms improve?

Dr. Houman answers: I often tell my patients that the need to continue prostatitis supplements depends on the underlying cause and recurrence pattern of their symptoms.

If a supplement has helped reduce inflammation, support urinary function, or manage chronic pelvic pain, continuing it as part of a long-term wellness strategy may help prevent flare-ups, especially for men prone to recurrent or chronic prostatitis. 

However, not all patients need indefinite supplementation. Once symptoms are well-controlled, some may taper off under medical guidance while monitoring for any return of discomfort. It’s always best to work closely with a healthcare provider to tailor the duration and type of supplement use to your specific condition and risk profile.

Conclusion

Men of all ages can develop prostatitis, and it often leads to significant urinary symptoms and compromises overall quality of life. Fortunately, as our understanding of this condition grows, the potential benefits of incorporating natural, plant-based prostatitis supplements (or what many call “prostate vitamins”) become more apparent. Research on zinc, saw palmetto, Cernilton, quercetin, Pygeum, vitamin C, and probiotics suggests that many individuals with prostatitis may find relief by complementing conventional treatments with these alternative approaches.

I encourage anyone interested in these supplements to talk with a qualified healthcare professional, particularly to ensure they’re used safely and effectively alongside other therapies. Prostatitis can be complex, and treatment may need to be tailored to the specific type and severity of symptoms.

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