Serenoa repens, selenium and lycopene to manage lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive for benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disease affecting most of the elderly male. α1-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are currently used to target lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Moreover phytotherapeutic agents, including Serenoa Repens (SeR), have shown to have a role in ameliorating BPH/LUTS alone or in combination of other elements like Selenium (Se) and Lycopene (Ly).

A literature review was performed using data from articles assessing the role of of SeR+Se+Ly in the management of LUTS secondary to BPH. Diverging evidence on SeR's efficacy is available. On one hand several studies have shown SeR efficacy in treating BPH/LUTS. SeR is effective in reducing prostate size, urinary frequency, dysuria, nocturia and in improving maximum urine flow-rate. On the other hand two long-term trials reported that SeR did not improve prostate size or urinary flow. SeR+Se+Ly in combination with tamsulosin is more effective than single therapies in improving IPSS and increasing maximal urinary flow-rate in patients affected by LUTS/BPH.

Despite great amount of preclinical and clinical studies, the use of SeR in BPH/LUTS is not sustained by clear evidence for a therapeutic efficacy but current data hint higher efficacy of of SeR+Se+Ly compared to SeR alone.

Expert opinion on drug safety. 2016 May 27 [Epub ahead of print]

Andrea Russo, Paolo Capogrosso, Giovanni La Croce, Eugenio Ventimiglia, Luca Boeri, Alberto Briganti, Rocco Damiano, Francesco Montorsi, Andrea Salonia

a Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy., a Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy., a Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy., a Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy., b Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology ; URI; IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy., a Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy., c Research Doctorate Program in Urology , Magna Graecia University , Catanzaro , Italy., a Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy., a Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.