ß-SITOSTEROL

G. Merrill Andrus PhD, 2003

A number of sterol compounds, chemically similar to testosterone, are found in saw palmetto berries. Such sterol compounds b-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, are also found in Pygeum Africanum and stinging nettle. Another natural product traditionally used for prostate health is pumpkin seeds, which contain oily compounds of many kinds. All these natural products by themselves or in combinations have long been used effectively to reduce BPH. By including both the known active sterols and the herbal materials in which they are known to exist, any unknown trace materials found in the plant sources would also be included in a nutritional supplement. The extra sterols ensure that their benefits will be realized. An extensive review (Wilt TJ, MacDonald R, Ishani A. 1999, British Journal of Urology International, 83, 976-983) published in 1999 concluded that b-sitosterol by itself improves urological symptoms such as flow, even though by itself it does not significantly reduce prostate size. Therefore a full complement of components in the herbal products are necessary to obtain a more complete benefit, since not all of the nutritional mechanisms are fully understood, the active ingredients as well as the whole herbal products are should be part of a nutritional supplement.

Beta Sitosterols

Science has shown that the most powerful nutritional supplement for prostate health is a common plant alcohol called beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol is found in literally all of the vegetables you eat, and is the most prominent plant sterol in nature. Actually it is comprised of several sterols including campesterol, stigmasterol, brassicasterol, and beta-sitosterol. This is the substance that is able to block DHT (dihydrotestosterone). In addition, b-Sitosterols also lower cholesterol levels which also inhibit the production of DHT. Therefore it is a very powerful DHT blocker and since it is a completely natural product, it does not have any adverse side effects.

In several studies, b-Sitosterols have been proven as effective as many drugs in treating prostate problems. Since these prostate problems are also caused by DHT, it is easy to see that Beta Sitosterols can be a powerful weapon in warding off hair loss.

In his book, The Natural Prostate Cure , Roger Mason describes the significance of b-sitosterol. "Beta-sitosterol is the most important phytosterol in our diet, and is found in literally all our vegetables. It is the most important supplement you can use for good prostate health. It has many other benefits, and can be used by both men and women. It is estimated that Americans generally eat about 300 mg a day of beta-sitosterol and vegetarians eat at least twice that much."

Roger Mason recommends that supplements should provide at least 300 mg of b-sitosterol each day to obtain the desired benefits. He references the following research to substantiate the effective of this natural substance. "There are dozens of classic double-blind studies, done with actual men, on the effects of beta-sitosterol on benign prostate hypertrophy or BPH (enlarged prostate). We'll discuss a few of these to give you some examples of the first-rate research that has been done around the world."

"At the Institute of Clinical Medicine at the University of Rome, DiSilverio and his colleagues studied 35 men with BPH for 3 months, and gave half of them a placebo (inert capsules). They concluded, "On the basis of these considerations, monotherapy with S. repens extract (beta-sitosterol extracted from saw palmetto) may be more favorably accepted, on account of similar clinical results, when compared to the combination therapy cyproterone acetate plus tamoxifen."

"At the University of Bochum in Herne, Germany, Dr. Berges and his associates used pure beta-sitosterol with 200 men over the course of a year, half of whom received a placebo. They said, "significant improvement in symptoms and urinary flow parameters show the effectiveness of beta-sitosterol in the treatment of BPH." This is clearly one of the most important and well done studies on prostate ever published".

"At eight different urological clinics in Europe, a collective study over a two month period, was done of 263 total patients with BPH. They were given either Tadenan (a Pygeum africanum extract standardized for beta-sitosterol content) or a placebo. This very extensive study was coordinated among different clinics and different doctors who all agreed, "treatment with the Pygeum africanum extract led to a marked clinical improvement; a comparison of the quantitative parameters showed a significant difference between the Pygeum africanum group and the placebo group, with respect to therapeutic response."

"Dr. Berges and his associates at Ruhr University in Germany published another study on beta-sitosterol in 2000. This time they wanted to do a very long term study to prove beyond any doubt the lasting effects of beta-sitosterol therapy on prostate enlargement for an eighteen month period. This was, of course, a classic double blind study and they measured many basic indexes to show in detail how the men fared. The untreated men got worse with time, while the men given beta-sitosterol improved in all measured ways. They concluded, "The beneficial effects of beta-sitosterol treatment...were maintained for 18 months." This leaves no doubt as to the long term effectiveness."

"A unique review of studies, over a 31-year period, used 18 different international trials involving 2,939 men with BPH. They were treated with strong extracts of saw palmetto, standardized for beta-sitosterol content. After reviewing all these studies, the researchers announced, "The evidence suggests that Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) extract improves urologic symptoms and flow measures."

"At the Veterans Administration in Minneapolis doctors did a very thorough review of the research on beta-sitosterol going back over 30 years and included 32 references. They concluded that beta-sitosterol had, "the greatest efficacy amongst phytotherapeutica substances". They also concluded that, "Beta-sitosterol improves urological symptoms and flow measures." A review like this is very impressive, as it uses many studies condensed into one comprehensive presentation."

Roger Mason also lists other benefits of beta-sitosterol.

"A notable benefit of this supplement is the promotion of healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Over thirty years ago, studies showed a positive effect, with no change in diet or exercise. Since then, over 50 articles have been published in international medical journals. To reap the benefits described, you need to take about 300mg a day of mixed beta-sitosterols. If you lower your fat intake, and actively exercise, the results can be much more dramatic. Common sense tells you to cut down or cut out saturated animal fat, dairy, and, especially, unnatural hydrogenated fats, which are found in so many of our processed foods. Surprisingly, the intake of vegetable oils does not raise cholesterol or triglyceride levels, but excess vegetable oils can contribute to prostate disease and other illnesses. Please read my book Lower Cholesterol Without Drugs."

" Powerful anti-inflammatory properties of this wondrous substance have been demonstrated. At the University of Stellenbosch, doctors are working with people with rheumatism to see if beta-sitosterol will help them. This is certainly more fruitful than dangerous synthetic chemicals that are touted as arthritis and rheumatism 'breakthroughs' every year, but never deliver what is promised. At King George Medical College in India, arthritic rats were given beta-sitosterol with good results and total safety. At the University of Napoli in Italy, arthritic rats improved significantly when given beta-sitosterol. Several relevant U.S. and European patents have been granted for this purpose."

"Doctors at the State University of New York have been studying the effects of beta-sitosterol on human prostate and human colon cancer cells in test tubes. They have found it to be a potent killer of cancer cells, but so far only in test tubes. This is very promising research in finding effective natural supplements that have anti-cancer properties. At the famous Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute, doctors found beta-sitosterol to slow the growth of colonic adenomas (tumors) when fed to rats. At the University of Frauenklin in Germany, men with prostate adenomas were given beta-sitosterol, which slowed tumor growth by decreasing their prostaglandin content. At the National Institute of Health in Maryland, scientists studied the chemopreventive properties of beta-sitosterol. This means that it helps prevent cancer when known carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) are given to laboratory animals. The same chemopreventive results were found with rats, at Wayne State University."