Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate, will affect the quality of life of more than half of all men in their lifetime. 90% of men over 85 suffer through it. This just published study suggests a novel new way of improving it.
This double-blind study included 80 men between the ages of 50 and 80 with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Men with low vitamin D were given 50,000 IU vitamin D for 8 weeks and480mg of silymarin, the active ingredient in the herb milk thistle, for 3 months.
The combined herbal-vitamin treatment significantly improved International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), the amount of urine left in the bladder after urinating (PVR), prostate size, irritation and obstruction.
The vitamin D and the silymarin each individually significantly improved IPSS, PVR and obstruction. Vitamin D also improved irritation, and silymarin improved prostate volume (size).
This study suggests that vitamin D and silymarin can improve the symptoms of enlarged prostate and, intriguingly, even shrink the prostate.
Urologia. 2024 Sep 2:3915603241274467.