Stop the progression of an enlarged prostate with lycopene

Added 27.08.2008

If you are a male over the age of 50, there is a very good chance you have or will have an enlarged prostate or benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). No need for alarm though, this is a very common condition affecting more than half of all men over 50 years of age and is part of the aging process.

If you do have BPH you probably know that symptoms such as decreased urinary flow and the need to get up frequently during the night to urinate (nocturia) can be quite bothersome. But they need not be because new research shows that you can promote prostate health with a natural, side effect free (unlike pharmaceutical drugs) compound called lycopene.

What is lycopene?

Lycopene is a carotenoid pigment and antioxidant found in tomatoes and other red- and pink-colored fruits and vegetables. There are already numerous documented studies linking lycopene to cardiovascular health and the prevention of certain types of cancer.

How can lycopene help an enlarged prostate?

Recent scientific studies show that men taking lycopene supplements experience an increase in prostate health. Lycopene also inhibits the progression of prostate enlargement.

Lycopene in orange tomatoes more bioavailble than in red tomatoes

A detail to keep in mind if you also want to obtain lycopene from food sources: current research reveals that the lycopene content of orange (tangerine) tomatoes are more bioavailable than the type of lycopene found in red tomatoes. Bioavailability is the rate at which a substance is absorbed by the body and becomes available at the site of action. Absorption of lycopene from orange tomatoes is 2.5 times higher than from red tomatoes.

References:

• Prostate Gland Supplements