Cranberry

For years, cranberry juice or cranberry supplements have been used to help women alleviate symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other bladder issues, but is cranberry juice good for prostate health in men as well?

As researchers continue to learn more about the medicinal properties of cranberries, many studies have reported on the possible connection between cranberry and prostate health benefits in men.

When it comes to prostate health, one of the most common conditions in older men is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is an enlargement of the prostate gland and can result in obstructive urinary symptoms such as urgent, painful, or frequent urination. BPH symptoms can grow worse over time if left untreated. Another condition that affects prostate health is prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate gland.

Men with both bacterial and nonbacterial types of prostatitis may benefit from cranberry supplementation for prostatitis or BPH.

Aside from cranberry and its prostate health benefits, are there any side effects to cranberry supplements? When taken at a dose of 500mg, men reported little to no side effects. It is important to note that cranberry does contain high levels of oxalate, which may increase the risk of kidney stones, so be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any supplement.

Drinking cranberry juice for prostate health may not be as effective as cranberry supplements, but unsweetened options still have antioxidant properties and benefits.

We formulated our men’s prostate health supplement to include the best clinically proven ingredients to promote prostate health.

Prost-P10x contains 500mg of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and other vitamins and minerals that support healthy prostate size, normal urination flow, improved urological health, and inflammation support in men.

There have been many studies to evaluate the use of cranberry for prostate health support. Below is the abstract from a study called “The effectiveness of dried cranberries ( Vaccinium macrocarpon) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms” by Ales Vidlar, Jitka Vostalova, Jitka Ulrichova, Vladimir Student, David Stejskal, Richard Reichenbach, Jana Vrbkova, Filip Ruzicka, Vilim Simanek.

“Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common condition in older men. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) powder in men at risk of prostate disease with LUTS, elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA), negative prostate biopsy and clinically confirmed chronic non-bacterial prostatitis. Forty-two participants received either 1500 mg of the dried powdered cranberries per d for 6 months (cranberry group; n 21) or no cranberry treatment (control group; n 21). Physical examination, International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life (QoL), five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), basic clinical chemistry parameters, haematology, Se, testosterone, PSA (free and total), C-reactive protein (CRP), antioxidant status, transrectal ultrasound prostate volume, urinary flow rate, ultrasound-estimated post-void residual urine volume at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months, and urine ex vivo anti-adherence activity were determined in all subjects. In contrast to the control group, patients in the cranberry group had statistically significant improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score, QoL, urination parameters including voiding parameters (rate of urine flow, average flow, total volume and post-void residual urine volume), and lower total PSA level on day 180 of the study. There was no influence on blood testosterone or serum CRP levels. There was no statistically significant improvement in the control group. The results of the present trial are the first firm evidence that cranberries may ameliorate LUTS, independent of benign prostatic hyperplasia or C-reactive protein level.”

The British Journal of Nutrition vol. 104,8 (2010): 1181-9. doi:10.1017/S0007114510002059