Can the intake of low fat diet, engaging in strenuous exercises spiced with a special preparation of coconut and tomato beat prostate problems CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes. THEY present with similar symptoms: Frequency in urination, hesitancy, urgency, trickling flow of urine and, in advanced stages, there is acute urine retention due to blockage when the patient cannot pass urine. Prostate cancer and enlarged prostate /Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) are becoming important public health problems in Nigeria.The enlargement of the prostate gland in sexually active elderly males has been a major ailment with very serious concern to medical institutions around the world, especially because of the associated complications of acute urine retention, which causes severe pain, discomfort, anxiety, and loss of consciousness, which warrant urgent and emergency medical attention.The enlargement can be a simple type described as BPH when the ultra sound features show smooth echogenicity. Another type of enlargement can show rough surface with heterogeneous echogenicity in which case it can be said to be cancerous or malignant. Both cases of enlargement usually present similar symptoms of frequency in urination, hesitancy, urgency, trickling flow of urine and, in advanced stages, there is acute urine retention due to blockage when the patient cannot pass urine.The usual medical practice is to pass a catheter through the urethra into the bladder to void urine as a palliative measure before surgical operations are performed to either partially remove the prostate gland or in some cases a complete or total prostatectomy. Modern methods have been evolved to control the enlargement of the prostate through radiation, such as the latest technology of transurethral microwave thermo therapy. Most available synthetic drugs have not proved effective in curing the ailment.However, scientists have identified natural recipes for reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer and enlarged prostate. Top on the list are coconut and tomato.According to a study titled Phytomedicines for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia without surgery in Nigeria, 52 cases of clinically confirmed prostate enlargement were treated at the Narl specialist clinic between 1997 and 2000 with phytomedicines developed from coconut (Cocos nucifera).The study was published in ISHS Acta Horticulturae 597: International Conference on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants by E.O. Olapade, E.O. Olapade (Jnr.), C.O. Olapade, and O.C. Ola reads: 32 BPH cases with raised Prostate Specific Antigen (P.S.A.) levels of 7-23 ng/l (normal 0 - 4 ng/l), were successfully reinstated without surgery within six-12 weeks of treatment. Only four of the malignant cases were successfully treated after 48 weeks of continuous treatment with the addition of two fruits of tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) in their daily diets. The remaining 16 cases of malignant enlargements had to undergo surgical operations. The findings conclude that the phytomedicines were effective in reducing the elevated P.S.A. within the first four weeks of treatment and very efficient and safe.Earlier, study indicated that a compound found in soybeans almost completely prevented the spread of human prostate cancer in mice. Other studies also showed that diet rich in tomato, garlic, coconut can prevent and reduce the growth of prostate cancer without surgery.Medical practitioners advise patients to eat meals rich in vitamin A and Iycopene found in vegetables, tomatoes, coconut, soybeans, certain fruits and garlic for the management of prostate cancer.Several studies including a clinical trials at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, have shown that a combination of Pygeum africanum (African plum tree or bitter almond) with saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) or stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) significantly reduces urinary hesitancy, urinary frequency, the number of times patients need to wake up at night to urinate, and pain with urination in men who experience mild-to-moderate symptoms. Another popular phyto-medicine for treating prostate problems is pumpkinseed oil.Botanically called Pygeum africanum or Prunus africana, African plum belongs to the plant family Rosaceae. It is called emi or olowomefa in Yoruba, kadanya in Hausa, osisi in Ibo. Historically, the bark was powdered and used to make a tea, which was taken by mouth for urinary problems.Commonly called nettle, big string nettle, common nettle, stinging nettle, Urtica dioica and other species belong to the plant family Urticaceae. Stinging nettle is a leafy plant found in most parts of Nigeria, but ubiquitous in the Southern parts. The Igbos call it agbara or akuwa; osokporode in Urhobo, and to the Yorubas it is ewe esinsin or esisi.Pygeum africanum has been shown to be beneficial in treating BPH. It is especially helpful in increases urinary function, often limited due to enlarged prostate. Combining this supplement with saw palmetto and stinging nettle increase the effectiveness of each herb.Pygeum has also shown promise in preventing, combating and reducing the symptoms of prostate cancer and chronic prostates. In animal studies, pygeum showed an increase in the volume and viability of sperm in the semen. This indicates a possible use of this herb for treating male infertility.Traditionally, the bark of the tree was gathered and powdered and made into a tea, which was taken for genito-urinary complaints. Some of the less researched, traditional uses of pygeum include use as an aphrodisiac, fever, impotence, kidney disease, malaria, hair loss, partial bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), sexual performance, urinary tract infections, inflammation, malaria, prostatic adenoma, prostatitis, and psychosis.There is some exciting research on Pygeum going on at the Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital in Jena, Germany. A new study published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine found that atraric acid, a Pygeum phytochemical, inhibits the ligand-activated human androgen receptor (AR), which controls the growth of the prostate gland.The same research group found that another compound in Pygeum, N-butylbenze-sulfonamide (NBBS), also inhibits the androgen receptor, as well as the progesterone receptor (PR). NBBS inhibits both endogenous PSA (prostate specific antigen) expression and growth of human prostate cancer cells by binding to the androgen receptor and inhibiting its translocation to the cell nucleus.The best-researched indication for nettle is use of the root for men with symptomatic BPH, something nettle is not known for traditionally. At least four double-blind clinical trials confirm the efficacy of nettle root for BPH symptoms alone or in combination.Also, men who eat a diet low in fat and red meat but high in vegetables and lean protein and who drink alcohol in moderation may not just be doing their hearts a favour. A new study shows that such a heart-healthy diet may also be good for the prostate.These findings by lead author Dr. Alan Kristal, and colleagues are published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.Before now, several studies have associated diets high in plant-derived polyphenols - principally, the deeply pigmented antioxidants in many fruits and vegetables - with lower risks of malignancies including prostate cancer.It is becoming increasingly clear that a diet high in phyto-estrogens and low in meat, animal fats and dairy products is protective against prostate cancer. Phyto-estrogens consist of two major groups - isoflavonoids found in soybeans and legumes and lignans found in nuts, cereals, fruits, berries and vegetables.Scientists have confirmed that a diet rich in a fat found in oily fish and pumpkin seeds may protect men with prostate cancer from developing a more aggressive form.It has been shown that prostate cancer is much more likely to be life-threatening if tumour cells migrate and invade other tissues, such as the bone marrow. Lab tests found omega-3 oil - present in fish like salmon - prevented this.The results of the study, based at Manchesters Christie Hospital, are in the British Journal of Cancer. The Paterson Institute researchers tested the effect of two types of dietary fat on prostate cancer cells in the lab.Preliminary studies have shown that pumpkin seeds may reduce hormonal damage to prostate cells, thus possibly reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer.Also, it has been shown that vigorous running prevents enlarged prostate.Runners have less chance of an enlarged prostate, the more kilometres per week they run and the faster the speed. An epidemiologist at the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, U.S., discovered this when he analysed data from nearly 30,000 runners.Studies have shown that a moderate amount of physical exercise protects against prostate enlargement. Studies on the effects of vigorous physical exercise are less clear, however. Some conclude that men who pursue physical exercise fanatically are less likely to develop enlarged prostates, others that they are more likely.
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