Author(s)

Qingwen Xie, Jing Leng, Jianwei Lv, Allan Pantuck, Lawrence Yen, Mina Shariff, Kenneth Kami, Jianyu Rao, Rong Shi

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Department of Research, DRM Resources, Costa Mesa, USA.
Department of Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Department of Urology, Shanghai Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of the saw palmetto-based nutritional supplement, Prostataplex, for relieving the symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with mild to moderate degrees of BPH. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in Shanghai, China. Eighty patients with BPH were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (39 cases) or control group (41 cases). Patients in the intervention group were administered Prostataplex orally and placebos were given to patients in the control group. The duration of treatment was 12 weeks in both groups. Following the intervention of Prostataplex, the maximum urinary flow rates (MFR), total scores of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and quality of life indicators were significantly better among the patients in the intervention group than those in the control group (P < 0.01 for all variables). Significant improvement of symptoms including dysuria, reducing nocturnal polyuria and increasing urinary flow rate was seen after two months of intervention, especially for the improvement of incomplete bladder emptying. Prostataplex has positive effects on improving symptoms as well as quality of life in men with mild to moderate BPH.

Saw Palmetto, Prostataplex; Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; Intervention

Q. Xie, J. Leng, J. Lv, A. Pantuck, L. Yen, M. Shariff, K. Kami, J. Rao and R. Shi, "Saw Palmetto-Based Nutritional Supplement Prostataplex Relieves Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) in Patients with Mild to Moderate BPH," Open Journal of Urology, Vol. 2 No. 3, 2012, pp. 104-108. doi: 10.4236/oju.2012.23018.