Curcumin for Prostate Conditions
Image by Enoch Choi
Biomedical researchers from Italy’s Chieti-Pescara University have confirmed what recent laboratory research has found: That the Ayurvedic herb turmeric (Curcuma longa) increases quality of life and reduces symptoms of enlarged prostate hyperplasia also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The ancient Ayurvedic herbal remedy joins the list of several other nutraceuticals that have now been scientifically confirmed to reduce enlarged prostate.
For six months the researchers gave 33 patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia with a turmeric extract of curcumin in a product called Meriva® in addition to standard conventional BPH treatment. A control group of 28 BPH patients matched for age and severity received only the conventional BPH treatment.
After the treatment the researchers utilized the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) to evaluate the results of the two groups treated. While both groups experienced improvement in most symptoms, the curcumin-treated group experienced greater improvement. The curcumin-treated group also experienced higher quality-of-life scores than did the conventional treatment group.
The researchers concluded:
“In patients with BPH, the addition of Meriva® to the standard treatment contributed to the reduction of signs and symptoms of the disease without causing any significant additional side effect. This pilot experience suggests a potential novel clinical application of curcumin…”
The Meriva product is a lecithinized curcumin product. Lecithinized refers to lecithin being sprayed onto the product before packing. This gives the product the ability to deliver into the intestines with a minimal breaking down.
This isn’t the first study that has indicated curcumin’s ability to treat enlarge prostate. A study from the Seoul National University College of Medicine found that curcumin inhibited hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in both animal and human prostrate cell tests. This inhibition resulted in a reduction of inflammation – hyperplasia – among the prostate cells. This in turn mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, directly related to inflammation.
In addition, University of Rochester Medical Center researchers confirmed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were modulated by curcumin. Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers also found that curcumin reduce inflammation among prostate cells.
Other prostate articles in Heal Naturally:
Medicinal mushrooms for prostate
Herbs for enlarged prostate
Prostate cancer therapy
TCM and Acupuncture
Polyphenol foods
Fried foods and prostate
REFERENCES:
Ledda A, Belcaro G, Dugall M, Luzzi R, Scoccianti M, Togni S, Appendino G, Ciammaichella G. Meriva®, a lecithinized curcumin delivery system, in the control of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a pilot, product evaluation registry study. Panminerva Med. 2012 Dec;54(1 Suppl 4):17-22.
Li Y, Ahmad A, Kong D, Bao B, Sarkar FH. Recent progress on nutraceutical research in prostate cancer. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2013 Dec 28.
Parsai S, Keck R, Skrzypczak-Jankun E, Jankun J. Analysis of the anticancer activity of curcuminoids, thiotryptophan and 4-phenoxyphenol derivatives. Oncol Lett. 2014 Jan;7(1):17-22.
Kim HJ, Park JW, Cho YS, Cho CH, Kim JS, Shin HW, Chung DH, Kim SJ, Chun YS. Pathogenic role of HIF-1α in prostate hyperplasia in the presence of chronic inflammation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Jan;1832(1):183-94. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.09.002.
Lu T, Lin WJ, Izumi K, Wang X, Xu D, Fang LY, Li L, Jiang Q, Jin J, Chang C. Targeting androgen receptor to suppress macrophage-induced EMT and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) development. Mol Endocrinol. 2012 Oct;26(10):1707-15.
