Prostate

The prostate or prostate gland is a small organ located (only in men) between the bladder and the rectum and surrounds the urethra. Its function is to produce prostatic fluid, which nourishes and transports sperm.

Throughout a man's life, the prostate undergoes various changes. At birth, it is about the size of a pea, with only slight enlargement until puberty. After that, it begins to enlarge quite rapidly and by the age of twenty, reaches normal adult size and shape (approximately the size of a walnut).

However, the prostate is also the site of the most common issues in the male genitourinary system:

1. Benign prostatic hyperplasia.
After the age of 40, in most men, it starts to enlarge again (this is conditioned by the multiplication and division of cells). This leads to a very common problem among the male population - benign prostatic enlargement known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. This type of problem most commonly manifests as difficulty in urination, or pain or irritation during urination. The precise causes of prostatic enlargement are unknown, but hormonal imbalance is often pointed out:

A) A decrease in testosterone production and a subsequent increase in the estrogen ratio (estrogen increases the activity of substances that promote the growth of prostate cells).

B) A decrease in testosterone production, where the production of dihydrotestosterone may stimulate prostate cells to continue growing.

2. Prostatitis.
This refers to acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate. Its most common cause is bacterial infection and can also occur as an accompanying factor of certain sexually transmitted diseases.

3. Prostate cancer.

The impact of diet on prostate issues

Each prostate health complication has different dietary guidelines. Apart from smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption contribute to the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, it is a fact that there is no known effective prevention for developing benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Dietary supplements can be relatively effective for prostatic enlargement, and several herbs have shown interesting effects. However, the use of these can cause a range of side effects or may negatively influence other supplements or medications. Therefore, supplementation should always be conducted under the supervision of a healthcare provider:

- Saw palmetto.
Contains substances that block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, a necessary component for prostate growth.

- Beta-sitosterol.
A cholesterol-like substance found in certain seeds (e.g., pumpkin seeds) that reduces the production of dihydrotestosterone, which stimulates prostate cell growth.

- Extracts from the bark of African plum tree.

It affects frequent nighttime urination.

- Extracts from grass pollen.

Also reduces the frequency of nighttime urination.

For prostatitis, an adequate intake of the following is commonly recommended:

• Zinc,
• Selenium,
• Vitamin E,
• Omega-3 fats (in the right ratio to omega-6, they suppress inflammatory processes in the body),
• Lycopene,
• Extracts from the root of stinging nettle (contains substances with diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects).

In the event of the development of oncological prostate problems, nutrition does not have a proven direct impact on the progression of the disease.