In clinical studies, Prostate Miracle was proven effective in 95% of patients . . . WITH NO SIDE EFFECTS.

• 3,000 Times More Powerful than Saw Palmetto
• Contains 300mg of Beta-Sitosterol

Prostate Miracle is formulated using beta-sitosterol extracted (in the U.S.) from sugar cane pulp. Beta-sitosterol is already in our diet in common foods we eat every day but only in small amounts. It is completely safe and without side effects. Numerous international scientific journals have published scientific studies that prove that beta-sitosterol is the most effective remedy known for prostate problems.

Each Prostate Miracle capsule contains 300 mg of beta-sitosterol. Prostate Miracle is 3,000 times more potent than saw palmetto. You would have to eat 2 lbs. of saw palmetto to get the same amount of beta-sitosterol Prostate Miracle® provides in ONE caplet.

Prostate Miracle® combines the 4 most important natural nutrients for promoting prostate health (in the correct amounts to be effective) 300 mg of Beta-Sitosterol with 7.5 mg of Zinc Citrate, 100 mcg of Selenium and 1000 iu's of Vitamin D3

In clinical studies, Prostate Miracle® was proven effective in 95% of patients, significantly decreasing the prostate size while dramatically reducing BPH symptoms.

• Prostate Miracle® is effective in relieving BPH induced Prostatitis.
• Prostate Miracle® is effective in lowering PSA levels.
• Prostate Miracle® is an excellent pre-emptive measure to prevent prostate cancer from developing.
• Prostate Miracle® is manufactured with pharmaceutical grade (USP) ingredients in the USA, in GMP Certified, FDA licensed and inspected facilities.

Prostate Miracle® May Help Prevent and Slow the Growth of Prostate Cancer.

Each daily serving of Prostate Miracle® provides 200 mcg of selenium which is the same amount used in the numerous studies which have all confirmed the tremendous benefit selenium has in both treating and preventing prostate cancer. In fact it has been demonstrated that 200 mcg per day of selenium may actually reduce the risk of getting prostate cancer (by as much as 50%).
The benefit of selenium is not limited to prostate cancer . . . other studies have shown that taking 200 mcg of selenium per day may actually protect against lung cancer & guard against colon cancer as well. Although the RDA for selenium is 70 mcg, most researchers agree this is a very conservative value . . . And that considerably higher doses are safe . . . there certainly aren't any published studies that indicate 200 mcg per day is harmful in any way.

Ingredients

Servings per bottle: 30

Capsules per bottle: 60

Amount per Capsule

Ingredient	Amount Per Serving	%DV
Zinc Citrate	7.5 mg	50%
Selenium	100 mcg	142%
Beta Sitosterol	300 mg	*
VItamin D3 (Cholecalciferol)	1,000 IU	250%
* Daily Value (DV) not established.
Other Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Sillica, Glaze

Directions:Take two capsules per day - once in the morning and once at bedtime.

Beta-Sitosterol Research

Beta-sitosterol is the miraculous common denominator found in saw palmetto, pygeum africanum, pumpkinseed oil and stinging nettles. However, the concentration of beta sitosterol in these herbs is very small . . . at best . . . a mere 3,000th of the amount found in Prostate Miracle®. Beta-sitosterol is also found in common foods we eat every day but in even smaller amounts than the above mentioned herbs. The chemical structure of beta-sitosterol is similar to that of cholesterol . . . the main difference being the presence of an extra ethyl group. Beta-sitosterol is completely safe and without any side effects.

Numerous international scientific journals (European Patent EP 287,2000; European Journal of Drug Metab., 1997; International Journal of Immunopharmacol, 1996; Anticancer Research, 1996; The Lancet, 1995; European Urology, 1994 and 1992; Minerva Urologia, 1985; British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1984; Medizinische Klinik, 1982; and Fortsher. Med., 1980) have published scientific studies that prove beta-sitosterol is an extremely effective, natural treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Excerpts from the following article (published by: LE Magazine Special Edition, Winter 2005/2006) summarize the latest beta sitosterol research . . . all of which validate the amazing effectiveness beta sitosterol has a treatment for BPH and other prostate ailments.

Beta-Sitosterol and the Aging Prostate Gland

by Stephen B. Strum, MD, FACP, and William Faloon

Prostate disorders wreak havoc on the majority of aging men. Scientists have identified nutrients and drugs that alleviate symptoms of benign enlargement and reduce prostate cancer risk.

A plant extract called beta-sitosterol may be of particular benefit. Published studies indicate that beta-sitosterol consistently improves urinary symptoms related to prostate enlargement.

For the past several decades, European doctors have routinely prescribed a variety of plant-based drugs to treat benign prostate enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms. Saw palmetto, pygeum, and nettle root extracts are common plant-based drugs prescribed to millions of men in Europe.

Consumers in the U.S. have open access to these same nutrients that are approved as drugs in Europe to combat urinary symptoms of benign prostate enlargement.

Beta-sitosterol is a plant fat contained in several European prostate drugs, though it is not routinely used in the United States. Multiple randomised studies have confirmed the efficacy of beta-sitosterol in alleviating the types of prostate discomfort that aging men so frequently encounter.

Measuring Symptoms of Prostate Enlargement

In order for scientists around the world to evaluate the efficacy of a particular therapy, certain testing standards have been established.

One of the most common standards is the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). The score is stated as a number that can range from 0 to 35, depending on the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms. The International Prostate Symptom Score also includes a scoring of quality of life as it relates to urinary symptoms.

A measurement to assess the strength of the urinary stream is called the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax). The maximum urinary flow is commonly decreased with benign prostate disease such as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia).

The third test is the amount of residual urine that remains in the bladder after voiding, or post-void residual urine (PVR). This is most easily assessed with pre- and post-void ultrasounds of the bladder.

Figure 1. International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS): Beta-Sitosterol vs. Placebo. Data comparing men treated with beta-sitosterol to those receiving placebo indicate a significant decrease in symptom scores in the beta-sitosterol group after three and six months of treatment.3 In a follow-up study, these improvements were maintained for an additional 18 months of observation.4

Remarkable Effects of Beta-Sitosterol

In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi centre study of 200 men with benign prostate enlargement, half the group received 180 mg of beta-sitosterol daily, while the other half received placebo. After six months, the beta-sitosterol group saw improvement in the International Prostate Symptom Score, the measurement of urine flow (Qmax), and the amount of residual urine remaining in the bladder (PVR).1 The beta-sitosterol group showed a 7.4-point decrease in the International Prostate Symptom Score, compared to a decrease of only 2.1 points in the placebo group. This was a significant 3.5-fold improvement in the men taking beta-sitosterol (Figure 1).1 The measurement of urinary flow increased to an average of 15.2 millilitres (ml) per second from 9.9 ml/second in the men receiving beta- sitosterol. The placebo group only increased to 11.4 ml/second from 10.2 ml/second at baseline. Urinary flow thus improved almost 35% in the group taking beta-sitosterol, compared to only 11% in the placebo group.1 Most remarkably, residual urine in the bladder decreased to 30.4 ml from 65.8 ml in the men using beta-sitosterol ... a reduction of almost 54%! In the placebo group, residual bladder urine declined from 64.8 ml to 54.3 ml ... a reduction of only around 16%. 1 In a follow-up study that evaluated durability of response to beta-sitosterol, the beneficial effects for beta-sitosterol were found to be maintained during an additional 18 months of observation.2

Figure 1 shows the significant difference in the International Prostate Symptom Score in men receiving beta-sitosterol compared to placebo.

Benefits of Beta-Sitosterol Confirmed

To confirm these remarkable effects of beta-sitosterol, another study was performed and the results were published in the British Journal of Urology. The study involved 177 patients with benign prostate enlargement. Patients received 130 mg of beta-sitosterol each day and were monitored for more than six months. Measurements of the International Prostate Symptom Score, urinary flow, and residual urine in the bladder after voiding were recorded.3

On average, urinary flow values increased by 4.5 ml/second while residual urine volumes decreased by a substantial 33.5 ml. The International Prostate Symptom Scores showed a statistically significant improvement. These results with beta-sitosterol are comparable to those seen with the commonly prescribed drug Proscar®, used to treat benign prostate enlargement.3

Table 1 Summary of Key Randomised Studies of Beta-Sitosterol in BPH Patients. Effects of beta-sitosterol on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual volume (PVR) are remarkably consistent. The study by Wilt and colleagues7 examined four different Randomised studies.

Two years later, a review of all existing studies of beta-sitosterol in the treatment of benign prostate enlargement was conducted. The researchers identified Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials involving a total of 519 men. In three of the trials, beta-sitosterol was used, and in one trial, a glucoside of beta-sitosterol was used. In these studies, beta-sitosterol improved urinary symptom scores and urinary flow rates, and significantly reduced the volume of residual urine in the bladder.4,5 Table 1 summarizes some of the Randomised studies of beta-sitosterol in the treatment of BPH.

The magnitude of reduction in prostate symptoms and improvement in urinary flow rates is a strong incentive for the use of beta-sitosterol, either alone or in combination with standard pharmacologic interventions such as alpha-adrenergic blockers (Cardura®, Hytrin®, Uroxatral®, Flomax®) or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (Proscar®, Avodart®).

Beta-Sitosterol and Prostate Cancer

A study using the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP (an androgen dependent tumour) showed that beta-sitosterol decreased cancer cell growth by 24% and induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) four-fold. These findings were correlated with a 50% increase in ceramide production.6 Research suggests that ceramide, an important component of the cell membrane, induces apopotosis.7

Figure 2. Effects of Phytosterol (Beta-Sitosterol + Campesterol) Mixture on PC-3 Cancer Cell Behaviour. The phytosterol mixture significantly reduced PC-3 cell growth, invasiveness, migration, and binding, compared to cholesterol.10
Growth of the human prostate cancer PC-3 cell line (androgen independent) implanted in mice was compared in two groups receiving either a 2% phytosterol mixture or a cholesterol mixture. In the in vitro studies, both beta-sitosterol and campesterol inhibited the growth of PC-3 cells by 70% and 14%, respectively. Cholesterol supplementation, by contrast, increased the growth by 18% when compared with controls.8

Phytosterols inhibited the invasion of PC-3 cells into Matrigel-coated membranes by 78% (a measure of cancer invasiveness), while cholesterol increased it by 43% compared to the cells in the control media.8

Migration of tumour cells through 8-micron pore membranes (a measure of tumour motility) was reduced by 60-93% when the PC-3 cells were in phytosterol media, compared to a 67% increase after cholesterol supplementation.8

Phytosterol supplementation reduced the binding of PC-3 cells to laminin by 15-38% and to fibronectin by 23%, while cholesterol increased binding to type IV collagen (a measure of adhesiveness and ability to form tumour clumps) by 36%.8 The results are presented in Figure 2.

Table 2. Tumour Cell Lines and Effects of Phytosterols. Breast, prostate, and colon cancer cell lines showed significant decreases in cancer cell growth and tumour size after phytosterol administration. Metastases to lymph nodes and lungs were also decreased.
The researchers concluded that phytosterol indirectly (in vivo as a dietary supplement) and directly (in tissue culture media) inhibited the growth and metastasis of PC-3 cells. Beta-sitosterol was more effective than campesterol in offering this protection in most of the parameters studied.8 Results of this study and other cell line trials involving phytosterols in cancer are shown in Table 2 shown on this page.

Figure 3. Increasing Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) with Advancing Age. As men age, the prevalence of LUTS increases as a reflection of prostate enlargement.2

Conclusion

As men grow older, cells in their prostate glands often overgrow, causing a swelling that obstructs the bladder opening, resulting in slowness in urination and bladder emptying. This non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland causes pressure on the urethra, acting like a clamp. The result is a weak urinary stream, hesitancy, and other uncomfortable urinary symptoms such as increased nighttime frequency and urgency. See Figure 3.

While a man aged 31 to 40 has only an 8% chance of having benign prostate enlargement, the risk increases to 40-50% in men aged 51 to 60 and to over 80% in men older than 80.14

For millions of men in America, benign prostate enlargement will severely downgrade their quality of life. Yet across the ocean are drugs that have been shown in carefully controlled studies to alleviate much of the discomfort associated with prostate gland overgrowth.

Europeans use beta-sitosterol by itself or in combination with saw palmetto to alleviate urinary symptoms of benign prostate enlargement.

As the word gets out about the documented benefits of beta-sitosterol, American consumers can expect to see more prostate support products that contain this low-cost plant sterol.

There are dozens and dozens of older classic double blind studies (referenced above) done with real men on the effects of beta-sitosterol on benign prostate hypertrophy or BPH. Below we have summarized some of these studies . . . all of which indicate that beta-sitosterol is a highly effective treatment for BPH.

A most unique review of 31 years of studies was published in the volume 280 of the Journal of the American Medical Association (1998) where they chose 18 different trials involving 2,939 men in total who were treated for BPH with strong extracts of saw palmetto containing beta-sitosterol. They said after reviewing all these studies, "The evidence suggests that Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) improves urologic symptoms and and flow measures."

One of the very best studies done was published in the British Journal of Urology, volume 80 (1997), at the University of Dresden. Dr's. Klippel, Hilti and Schipp studied 177 men for 6 months who suffered from BPH. Half the men got a placebo and half got the prescription extract Azuprostat containing 130mg of beta-sitosterol. They cited a full 32 references to substantiate their research. They carefully screened all the men and tested them extensively during the study. They concluded, "These results show that beta-sitosterol is an effective option in the treatment of BPH."

Another unique review in a different manner was done by Dr. Buck in the British Journal of Urology, volume 78 (1996). At the Department of Urology in Glasgow, Scotland he did a 12 page review of herbal therapy for the prostate including Harzol, Tadenan, Permixon, Strogen and Sabalux (all European prescription herbal extracts standardized for beta-sitosterol content). He documents his review with 59 published worldwide studies and discusses the biological basis of prostate illness. His conclusions of the efficacy of herbal treatment of prescription drugs and therapy are well founded certainly.

In the Lancet, vol 345 (1995) a very professional study was done at the University of Bochum in Herne, Germany by Dr. Berges and his associates. They used pure beta-sitosterol with 200 men half of whom received a placebo over the course of a year. 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.

In volume 55 of Current Therapeutic Research (1994) a study done at the University of Brussels, Belgium by Dr. Braeckman using Prostaserene (an extract standardized for beta-sitosterol) for a mere six weeks led him to conclude, "Traditional parameters for quantifying prostatism, such as the International Prostate Symptom Score, the quality of life score, urinary flow rates, residual urinary volume, and prostate size were found to be significantly improved after only 45 days of treatment. After 90 days of treatment, a majority of patients (88%) and treating physicians (88%) considered the therapy effective."

A study published in volume 21 of European Urology (1992), 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 favourably accepted, since on account of similar clinical results, when compared to the combination therapy cyproterone acetate plus tamoxifen..."

In the German journal Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, volume 22 (1990) at eight different urological clinics in Europe 263 total patients with BPH were studied over a two month period. They were given either Tadenan (a Pygeum africanum extract standardized for beta-sitosterol content) or a placebo. This very extensive study compiled from different clinics and different doctors yet all agreed that, "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."

Again, in Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica, volume 39 (1987), Dr's. Bassi et al at the University of Padova studied 40 men with BPH with and extract of Pygeum africanum with a high beta-sitosterol content. Half the men received a placebo and many parameters were measured for the two month study. They concluded, "The preliminary results demonstrate a significant improvement of the frequency, urgency, dysuria (difficult, painful urination) and urinary flow in patients treated with the active drug."

In the Italian journal Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica, volume 37 (1985), doctors at the University of Padova studied the effect of beta-sitosterol extract on 27 men with BPH. Dr. Tasca and his associates measured urine flow and other parameters in men ranging from ages 49 to 81 compared to men receiving a placebo.

In the journal Urolage A, volume 24 (1985) at the University of Basel, Switzerland, Dr. Vontobel and his colleagues studied a strong extract of nettles containing a high concentration of beta-sitosterol in a double blind study of 50 men for nine weeks. They said that the use of beta-sitosterols from nettles, "The evaluation of the objective parameters showed significant differences."

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in volume 18 (1984) at the Hospital Ambroise in Paris, Champault and two other doctors did a classic double blind study with 110 men half of them getting a placebo. They concluded, "Thus as predicted by pharmacological and biochemical studies PA109 (4 tablets of Permixon daily) would therefore appear to be a useful therapeutic tool in the treatment of BPH."

In Medical Science Research, volume 16 (1983), Dr's. Malini and Vanithakumari at the Institute of Medical Sciences in Madras, India studied the effect of beta-sitosterol on the fructose concentration of the prostate. Fructose is vital to the function of the prostate with regard to the androgenic hormones such as DHEA and testosterone. This was a very unique and thorough study lasting almost two months.

In volume 77 of the German journal Midizinische Klinik (1982) a study done at the Urological Clinik of Krankenhauser in Ludenscheid-Hellersen was performed on 23 patients. Dr. Szutrely gave the patients either Harzol (herbal extract standardized for beta-sitosterol content) or a placebo for patients with prostate enlargement over a two month period. They measured their prostates with ultrasound equipment before and after treatment. At the end he said, "Within the scope of a controlled double blind study to demonstrate the effect of conservative therapy of benign prostatic hyperplasia with Harzol, ultrasonic examination of the prostate adenoma (enlargement) was carried out on 23 patients before and after therapy with the trial preparation of a placebo. Within a two month treatment with Harzol there was a significant change in echo structure of the prostate adenoma, and this is interpreted as a reduction in the interstitial formation of oedema (swelling)."

In volume 98 of the German journal Fortschrifte Medizin (1980) at the Klinische Endokrinologie in Freiburg, Zahradnik and other doctors studied the beta-sitosterols taken from star grass sold as the prescription extract Harzol in regard to the development of prostate enlargement and prostaglandin levels. High prostaglandin levels support tumour growth.

These have been only a few of the many dozens of medical journal publications of studies taken place in some of the most important urological clinics around the world. These studies all indicate that beta-sitosterol is highly effective in reducing enlarged prostates in BPH patients as well as significantly decreasing their BPH symptoms.

References

1. Berges RR, Kassen A, Senge T. Treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia with beta-sitosterol: an 18-month follow-up. BJU Int. 2000 May;85(7):842-6.

2. Berges RR, Windeler J, Trampisch HJ, Senge T. Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Beta-sitosterol Study Group. Lancet. 1995 Jun 17;345(8964):1529-32.

3. Klippel KF, Hiltl DM, Schipp B. A multicentric, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol (phytosterol) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. German BPH-Phyto Study group. Br J Urol. 1997 Sep;80(3):427-32.

4. Wilt TJ, MacDonald R, Ishani A. beta-sitosterol for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. BJU Int. 1999 Jun;83(9):976-83.

5. Wilt T, Ishani A, MacDonald R, Stark G, Mulrow C, Lau J. Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD001043.

6. von Holtz RL, Fink CS, Awad AB. Beta-Sitosterol activates the sphingomyelin cycle and induces apoptosis in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Nutr Cancer. 1998;32(1):8-12.

7. Duan RD. Anticancer compounds and sphingolipid metabolism in the colon. In Vivo. 2005 Jan-Feb;19(1):293-300.

8. Awad AB, Fink CS, Williams H, Kim U. In vitro and in vivo (SCID mice) effects of phytosterols on the growth and dissemination of human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2001 Dec;10(6):507-13.

9. Awad AB, Gan Y, Fink CS. Effect of beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol, on growth, protein phosphatase 2A, and phospholipase D in LNCaP cells. Nutr Cancer. 2000;36(1):74-8.

10. Awad AB, Downie A, Fink CS, Kim U. Dietary phytosterol inhibits the growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells grown in SCID mice. Anticancer Res. 2000 Mar;20(2A):821-4.

11. Awad AB, Downie AC, Fink CS. Inhibition of growth and stimulation of apoptosis by beta-sitosterol treatment of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in culture. Int J Mol Med. 2000 May;5(5):541-5.

12. Awad AB, Williams H, Fink CS. Phytosterols reduce in vitro metastatic ability of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Nutr Cancer. 2001;40(2):157-64.

13. Awad AB, Burr AT, Fink CS. Effect of resveratrol and beta-sitosterol in combination on reactive oxygen species and prostaglandin release by PC-3 cells. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2005 Mar;72(3):219-26.

14. Glynn RJ, Campion EW, Bouchard GR, Silbert JE. The development of benign prostatic hyperplasia among volunteers in the Normative Aging Study. Am J Epidemiol. 1985 Jan;121(1):78-90.

What is Saw Palmetto?

Saw palmetto (also known as Serenoa Repens) is a low-growing, small palm tree with fanlike, fingery fronds and small berry-shaped fruits. Saw palmetto is native to and grows exclusively in the USA . . . primarily in Florida and near by vicinities.

Saw palmetto berries mainly consist of carbohydrates, phytosterols, fixed oils (free fatty acids and their glycerides), steroids, flavonoids, resin, pigment, tannin, and volatile oil. Saw palmetto has been reported to contain diuretic, urinary antiseptic, and anabolic properties.

Native Americans, such as Seminole Indians have been eating saw palmetto fruits for at least 12,000 years. Despite their pungent taste . . . these Indians recognize saw palmetto fruits as both a food and medicine. The native Floridians prepared infusions of Saw palmetto berries to treat stomach ache and dysentery, and used the fruit for diuretic and sexual tonic.

Prostate Miracle® is 3,000 times more powerful than Saw Palmetto

Though saw palmetto has been used for centuries as a treatment for bph; and in 1908 was officially listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia as a medicine for urinary tract problems; it is very important to note that the amount of beta sitosterol contained in saw palmetto is a mere 1/3,000 of the amount contained in one caplet of Prostate Miracle®. You would have to consume over a pound of saw palmetto berries or over (200) 500 mg capsules of saw palmetto extract to get the equivalent amount of beta sitosterol contained in a single dosage of Prostate Miracle®.
The following excerpt from the ABC news website is based on a recent study published in the he New England Journal of Medicine:

Saw Palmetto Called Ineffective, but Many Doctors Say They'll Still Recommend It

By SIRI E. NILSSON Feb. 8, 2006
Saw palmetto, an over-the-counter herbal therapy used by more than 2 million men for symptoms of an enlarged prostate, may be no more effective than a placebo, according to a study published in this week's issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

The study followed 225 men who had moderate-to-severe symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Half of the men were given saw palmetto extract twice a day, and half were given an inactive medication, or placebo.

At the end of one year, the men taking saw palmetto showed no significant improvement in their symptoms, nor did the placebo group.

The findings were welcomed by some doctors who said they felt all along that saw palmetto didn't work. Dr. Jacques Carter, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston, said he has observed in his own clinical practice that saw palmetto is virtually ineffective. "In nearly every instance, my patients reported little if any improvement of the symptoms on this supplement," Carter said.

And Dr. Carl Reese, at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, hopes the new finding can convince patients to stop spending money on saw palmetto. "Millions of dollars are spent each year by men on this product and it may not be of any benefit," said Reese. "This article will help the argument that they are wasting their money."

Some Physicians Will Continue to Recommend Supplement

Although the findings suggest that saw palmetto is not effective, the supplement is not known to cause harm. The symptoms of an enlarged prostate include difficulty urinating, a weak urine stream or frequent urination at night. It is an aggravating but otherwise harmless disorder that affects mostly older men. Some doctors do recommend saw palmetto to their patients and still will, despite this new findings.

Selenium Research

Excerpts from the following article (published by: LE Magazine November 2006) summarize the latest selenium research . . .

Important Health Benefits from an Overlooked Trace Mineral

by Julius G. Goepp, MD

When was the last time your doctor suggested that you supplement with selenium in an effort to prevent cancer? Scientists now know that this trace mineral has extraordinary value in fighting various cancers and other conditions involving oxidative stress and inflammation. 1,2

Doctors assume that we get enough selenium through plant foods. Unfortunately, in many places in America and the rest of the world, including China and Russia, the soil is badly depleted of its selenium content because of acid rain, which can dramatically change the chemical composition of the soil. As a result, soil acidification alters of the ability of the soil to bind with vital elements such as selenium for assimilation into edible plants.

Selenium’s Unique Biochemical Properties

What makes selenium unique? While scientists are still elucidating selenium’s role in a multitude of biochemical processes, one of its chief attributes is serving as a component of specific proteins called selenoproteins. Almost all of these proteins are active in the defence against reactive oxygen species (free radicals), which fuel numerous diseases and the aging process itself through their damaging effects on DNA and proteins.

Selenoproteins and their antioxidant products scavenge cell-damaging free radicals. Selenium is the only mineral nutrient that has its own DNA code, which instructs the body’s protein-synthesis “machinery” to incorporate selenium into its host proteins. Scientists interpret this unique attribute as evidence of selenium’s fundamental importance to virtually all living things on Earth. 3

Selenium is available from many dietary sources, including garlic, Brazil nuts, and certain vegetables; however, the amount of bioavailable selenium from these sources varies tremendously, depending on the soil and weather conditions where the plants are grown. 4 Foods containing selenium may also contain substances that limit selenium’s bioavailability. 5 Therefore, selenium supplementation is often recommended as a way to assure a dependable, bioavailable supply of this nutrient. 6

Selenium deficiency is increasingly associated with adverse health conditions and even life-threatening diseases. People who live in selenium-poor regions of the world suffer from dramatically increased rates of cancer, infections, and inflammatory diseases. 1,7-9 Fortunately, many of these conditions can be prevented and even reversed with selenium supplementation. 10-13 In this article, we will examine how oxidative stress can increase our vulnerability to inflammation, infection, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, and how selenium and the selenoproteins work to counteract oxidative stress, even in people without overt selenium deficiency.

Selenium Protects Against Oxidative Stress

Scientists now generally recognize that most disease processes produce their effects through chemically reactive molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals are composed mostly of reactive oxygen and nitrogen compounds. These reactive oxygen species initiate a destructive cycle fuelled in part by the body’s own defence mechanisms. They disrupt the normal structure of proteins and the genetic information encoded in DNA. This damage always results in the release of potent chemical messengers called cytokines. Cytokines trigger the inflammatory response in tissues, signaling immune and inflammatory cells to swarm the affected area.

This inflammatory reaction activates powerful factors deep within cell nuclei—such as nuclear factor-kappa beta (NFkB). These factors “translate” infection and inflammation into the uncontrolled cell replication that produces cancer. 14 Strong evidence also suggests that NFkB and related compounds are involved in the conversion of oxidative damage, stress, and inflammation into the stimuli that produce atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. 15

Selenium not only scavenges reactive oxygen species before these free radicals can damage cells, but also regulates nuclear factor activities deep within the cells themselves. 16 For this reason, scientists now call selenium “one of the most promising agents” for the prevention and control of cancer. 17

Laboratory evidence also supports selenium’s role in protecting cardiac muscle from the effects of reduced blood flow, or ischemia. 18 Under the extreme oxidative stress triggered by a severe infection, selenium has been shown to enhance the protective ability of intracellular antioxidant systems that use glutathione. 19 Moreover, selenium specifically inhibits the activation of NFkB, which in turn inhibits the release of inflammatory cytokines. In fact, in laboratory studies, a reduction of selenium has been shown to increase levels of these inflammatory molecules. 20 Research also shows that by reducing NFkB activity, selenium prevents the activation of inflammatory cells that contribute to vascular disease in type II diabetes. 21

These laboratory findings underscore selenium’s promise in preventing and treating a wide array of human diseases, while reducing the cumulative oxidative damage that underlies many of the deleterious changes associated with aging. 22

Selenium Combats Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases

The recognition of selenium’s ability to prevent oxidative damage has fuelled research into how selenium influences various chronic inflammatory conditions. For example, in a study of 70 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, selenium concentrations were found to be significantly lower than in a healthy population. When the subjects were given selenium or placebo for three months, the selenium-supplemented group showed fewer tender or swollen joints and less morning stiffness than did the control group. The supplemented patients also required less cortisone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) than did the controls, and demonstrated a reduction in laboratory indicators of inflammation. No side effects of selenium supplementation were noted. 23

Selenium has shown great promise in the treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis as well. 24 In a recent study, 48 patients with elevated levels of an antibody to thyroid enzymes were given selenium daily for three months, while 40 patients received placebo. Serum levels of the antibody dropped significantly in the supplemented group compared to the placebo group, demonstrating that selenium suppressed the autoimmune attack on these patients’ thyroid glands. 25 Similar reductions in measures of autoimmune inflammatory response have been shown in other studies of selenium alone or in combination with other antioxidants. 26-28

Many other autoimmune conditions are associated with low selenium levels, including autoimmune hepatitis and diabetes. 29-32 Preliminary trials have demonstrated a protective effect of selenium supplementation against both hepatitis C and alcoholic hepatitis; both conditions involve a substantial inflammatory component that is thought to be mitigated by the actions of selenoproteins. 33,34

Severe infection imposes some of the most concentrated oxidative stress of all human diseases. Selenium has shown important benefits for those with septic shock, one of the most troubling killers of people with infections, compromised immune systems, or those confined to the hospital. Now known as systemic inflammatory response syndrome, or SIRS, overwhelming infection leads to runaway release of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, ultimately causing a dramatic failure of multiple organs and bodily systems. 19 This condition, formerly known as “septic shock,” has yielded dramatically to the inclusion of selenium in treatment protocols, as evidenced by two remarkable studies published in 1999.

When 21 intensive-care patients with SIRS were given high-dose selenium (beginning at 535 mcg per day), their selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels normalized within three days; by contrast, selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels remained low in 21 control patients who received only “normal” amounts of selenium. Scores on a scale of physiological function were significantly better in the supplemented group than in the controls, and hemodialysis because of acute kidney failure was needed in only 3 of the 21 supplemented patients, compared to 9 of the 21 control patients.35 A similar study of 34 children with SIRS demonstrated markedly elevated activity of antioxidant enzymes in the selenium-supplemented group, with markers of lipid peroxidation and cell membrane destruction falling dramatically compared to controls. 36

Selenium Shows Promise in Preventing Cancer

To date, more than 100 animal studies have investigated selenium’s effects on the mechanisms responsible for initiating cancer. In the overwhelming majority of these studies, selenium reduced tumour incidence and tissue changes that lead to cancer. 8,37 The high incidence of various cancers in selenium-deficient regions of the world strongly supports a cancer-preventive role for selenium in humans as well, and epidemiological studies have demonstrated reductions in the rates of, and mortality from, all cancers in populations receiving selenium supplementation. 38

Selenium Prevents and Slows Prostate Cancer

Additional studies of selenium’s effects in helping to prevent specific cancers have yielded results that are even more positive.

One of the most dramatic of these was the unexpected outcome of a study designed to examine selenium’s impact on skin cancer. 39 This study of 1,312 individuals who received 200 mcg of selenium daily or a placebo showed no effect against skin cancer, but demonstrated “striking” results in preventing prostate cancer, the most common cancer in American men. 40,41 The overall risk of prostate cancer was almost 50% lower in the supplemented group than in the controls, though the result was significant only in men who had relatively low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and low initial selenium levels.

This result prompted a re-analysis of data from the SU.VI.MAX study, with a specific look at prostate cancer. 42 Within that group, 5,141 men took the selenium-containing supplement or placebo for eight years, and biochemical markers of prostate disease were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Overall, a slight reduction in prostate cancer risk was reported; however, among men who had normal PSA levels at the study’s outset, a significant risk reduction of nearly 50% was recorded.

A 2005 study focusing on selenium’s effects in preventing prostate cancer dramatically confirmed this protective effect. 43 Forty-eight patients with early prostate cancer took selenium, vitamin E, both L-selenomethionine and vitamin E, or a placebo for three to six weeks before undergoing prostatectomy (removal of the prostate). Levels of cancer markers were measured and compared with 29 healthy control subjects. The startling result was a change in classification from cancerous to healthy in the serum markers of disease in the men who took supplements compared to those who did not.

In addition to its clear role in preventing prostate cancer, selenium may slow the progression of already established prostate cancer. In a six-week trial, 37 men with prostate cancer and increasing PSA levels were given either a placebo or an antioxidant supplement containing selenium, plant estrogens, and other antioxidants. 44 In the supplemented group, male hormone levels (known to stimulate prostate cancer growth) were lower during treatment. In addition, free PSA levels rose during treatment with the placebo, but decreased during antioxidant supplementation.

These studies, along with recent findings that selenium is selectively concentrated in prostate tissue, 45 strongly support a role for selenium supplementation in both preventing and slowing the progression of prostate cancer.

Selenium Protects Against Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the world. 46 The previously mentioned skin cancer study also demonstrated that selenium supplementation reduced rates of lung and colorectal cancers. 39 Lung cancer is associated with antioxidative stress and low levels of antioxidants, including selenium. 47 A 1993 study demonstrated a 50% reduction in lung cancer occurrence in people with the highest dietary selenium intake compared to those with the lowest intake. 48 This finding is supported by a more recent study of more than 27,000 male smokers who were followed for nearly 15 years. In this study, researchers found that lung cancer risk was significantly lower in patients who had the highest intake of antioxidant vitamins and selenium. 49

Selenium supplementation was highly effective in preventing lung cancer in a region of China where very low natural selenium concentrations contribute to some of the world’s highest rates of lung cancer. Forty Chinese tin miners were randomly assigned to receive either 300 mcg of selenium or a placebo daily for one year. As expected, selenium blood levels rose dramatically in the supplemented miners, while serum levels of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase increased by 156%. At the same time, levels of lipid peroxide (a measure of cell membrane damage that leads to cancer) were reduced by 75% in the supplemented group, and there was laboratory evidence of protection from DNA damage, another prerequisite for cancer formation. 50

Moreover, results from the US Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in lung cancer incidence with selenium supplementation, with 200 mcg per day cutting the incidence of cancer by nearly 50%. 51 A later re-analysis with additional data showed the effect to be most significant in people with low baseline selenium levels, again suggesting that supplementation is preventive when initiated early. 37

Selenium Guards Against Colon Cancer

Selenium supplementation has also shown effectiveness in preventing colorectal cancer, the third most common cause of cancer death in the US. 52 Glutathione peroxidase, a selenium-containing antioxidant enzyme, is genetically defective in a significant percentage of patients with colon cancer. 53 Selenium actually activates the DNA repair mechanisms that help cells protect themselves against colon and other cancers, 54 while inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancerous tissue. 55 In an animal model of cancer, selenium-containing broccoli in the diet of laboratory rats protected the animals against chemically induced mammary and colon cancers. 56

After demonstrating that patients with colon cancer routinely have selenium deficiencies, and that levels of vital antioxidant enzymes could be increased with selenium supplementation, one research team concluded, “If prospective trials confirm that selenium supplementation reduces colon cancer incidence rates, it may be concluded that selenium supplementation should be recommended for patients at risk.” 57

Such confirmation is now beyond doubt. In a 1996 study of 44 patients with colon cancer, half were randomly assigned to receive selenium supplements and half were given a placebo. All the subjects had their tumours surgically removed, and all had abnormally low selenium levels at baseline. The selenium-supplemented patients demonstrated significant increases in anti-cancer immune system cells compared to levels in control patients, suggesting that selenium supplementation boosts cell-mediated immunity. 58

More dramatic, unexpected evidence of selenium’s cancer-preventive properties comes from a 2006 study. Seeking to determine the maximum tolerable dose of the anti-cancer drug irinotecan, researchers administered a massive dose of selenomethionine (containing 2200 mcg of selenium) to protect against the drug’s toxicity. 59 Selenium supplementation was begun one week before the first dose of irinotecan was administered to colon cancer patients who had previously not responded to chemotherapy. This small study of highly drug-resistant patients produced unexpected responses (one patient out of six showed a partial response to treatment) and disease stabilization. No adverse effects of the high dose were reported. The scientists recommended further study of high-dose selenomethionine to determine the most protective serum concentrations of selenium.

Conclusion

A review of recent research findings suggests that scientists have only begun to tap selenium’s potential as a vital antioxidant mineral.

As scientists continue to discover the many ways in which oxidative stress is related to inflammation and its destructive consequences—from atherosclerosis to prostate, lung, colon, and other cancers—the disease-preventive powers of selenium are likely to receive even greater scrutiny. For now, all health-conscious adults would be well advised to incorporate this vital mineral nutrient in their daily supplement regimen as part of a comprehensive disease-prevention program.

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Testimonials

"I am a 41 yr old male, who has had BHP for the last 4 years. My major complaint was dribbling after urination and a foul odour that would never go away due to bacteria buildup. Since taking Prostate Miracle, the dribbling has decreased substantially and the odour is gone. With all of the knock off, unrealistic promises of cures available on the internet, it is nice to see a product that actually works. Thank you so much!" CG, Ontario, Canada

"I just wanted to tell you how happy I am that I found your product, Prostate Miracle. I can't believe that I've gone from the usual symptoms of enlarged prostate, lack of stream, dribble, frequency, etc. to becoming closer to normal than I've felt in a long time. Each day is better and better, all in about two weeks time. I am very appreciative of this product and I'm going to show my doctor your product as well. " Bart Palamaro, Newbury Park, CA

"I have been taking Prostate Miracle for about a year now. I was having pain in the prostate and surrounding area, after 2 trips to the doctor and 2 different med's and the expense . . . I found prostate miracle on the internet and ordered, then after the quick results, I have ordered 4-times over the last year . (three bottles at a time) TODAY I got the results from the doctor my PSA results is 0.7 I was so happy ,I may never quit taking Prostate Miracle. My results were quick, probably 8-14 days but I had not been back to the doctor till now for all of my yearly check-ups. just wonted the world to know it really does work. Thank you for the product. My age is 63" Jack C. Moore

" I have just ordered Prostate Miracle -This is my second order and I want to thank you for the product, I have improved in all areas of my BPH. i had taken Proscar for 18 months before trying "Prostate Miracle" and experienced no improvement what-so-ever, Many thanks." Alan Pooley, Chain Valley Bay, NSW, Australia

"Good day! I am from the Philippines and I had a PSA of 19 last year. Then my daughter who was surfing the internet found your site. To make the long story short, we ordered the prostate miracle through a friend in the US and shipped it to us. I took the medicine immediately and after finishing one bottle, I had my PSA examined and I was surprised to found out that from 19 it became 15.5. Then I continued to take it and had my PSA tested again (last week) and now its down to 6! I had tears in my eyes and I want to thank you." Jun Gatmaitan

"i have taken prostate miracle for only 27 days and my psa went from 5.5 to 4.009! my urologist was thrilled. canceled biopsy for now, thank god!, and does not want to see me for 6 months! my family doctor also called me with the results! thank you for your product, will keep you informed as to how this all works out" warren maines bugman

"I did have a slight burning sensation in the prostate area after sitting at my desk for long hours while working on my computer, although it was not severe enough for me to be concerned about the health of my prostate. I thought that I had everything under control - as well as any healthy 64 year-old prostate could be. Since I do believe in preventative maintenance however, I started taking your Prostate Miracle Formula® about 3 months ago. I wasn't expecting to really feel any different than always because I hadn't had any specific pain related to that area. If I did, I thought it would be about six weeks or more before I would detect any appreciable improvement of any kind. Low and behold, after only three days of taking the Prostate Miracle®, I noticed a very definite feeling of well being throughout the whole area of the prostate. There was no more stinging or irritation after extended periods of sitting in my office chair in front of my computer. I was elated, to say the least, and very much surprised to find that the Prostate Miracle® actually worked as was stated by the conversation of the doctors on the radio advertisement. At last, a company that was not out to hoodwink its customers, deceive, and rob them. Since taking Prostate Miracle® pain and soreness in my abdominal that had appeared has totally gone. What a wonderful feeling, and what a wonderful supplement that your company is offering to the public. What else can I say; buy it, try it, you'll like it and you will never be without it." Ray E. Hammack

"I have been using your Prostate Miracle® since the beginning of 1999. I have had marvelous results. Last year, I was diagnosed as having BPH and evaluated with a 2 plus prostate size. Also, many urinary problems resulted from this condition. As of last month, after taking the recommended dosage all symptoms have been alleviated. Yesterday, I saw my urologist and the examination revealed that my prostate size was reduced to a 1 plus. A normal prostate was observed, including the normal groove dividing the 2 lobes of a normal prostate. Needless to say, I am ecstatic with the success of the Prostate Miracle®." Roy M. S.

"Getting up 8 times a night to 0 the 2nd day on the product and continuing." Jeff Gentry

"I was skeptical, even thought of returning it, then on my fourth week I noticed a change in urinary urgency. After another week I was getting a full nights sleep. Now, I feel normal. My psa has gone down from 11 to 2.3." Steve L. Wilson

"All urination symptoms, urgency, frequency, low flow, dribble gone after 2 days on the product." Frank Evans

"My husband was nearly forced to quit his job as a truck driver. I found you on the internet at work. Not only does he feel better but I'm ordering for another 5 drivers at his company." Jane H. Franz

"As I think I may have mentioned to you before, I told my urologist about beta-sitosterol, and he had remarked that he had had two former patients who had told him about their very favorable experiences with Prostate Miracle." Tim Wilder

"Last Thursday, during my appointment with the urologist, when I mentioned that I had begun to use "beta-sitosterol" to him, his face lit up, and he asked me to let him know where the product could be obtained so that he could recommend it to other patients. So, I mailed him your phone number, your address, your email address, and your web address." Phil Edwards

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Prostate Miracle: FAQ

What is BPH?

BPH is benign prostatic hypertrophy or enlargement. Almost 30 million American men suffer from this condition and over 1/2 of men have BPH by the time they reach the age of 50. After the age of 80, almost every man has it.

Why does the Prostate Increase in Size?

The prostate gland undergoes the process of enlargement because of certain hormonal changes and some nutritional deficiencies.

What is the Treatment for BPH?

The main treatment is surgical. A procedure called TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) removes some of the prostate tissue to increase the opening for the flow of urine. Medications, such as Hytrin, Cardura and Proscar also improve some of the symptoms. Unfortunately, neither the surgery nor the medications really decrease the size of the prostate. That’s why any relief they provide is only temporary.

How Effective is Prostate Miracle®?

In clinical studies, the Prostate Miracle® was effective in 95% of patients. There was a significant reduction in symptoms and an actual decrease of the prostate size. No side effects were observed.

How Should I Use Prostate Miracle®?

The suggested usage of Prostate Miracle® is 1 tablet 2 times a day, with or without food. Some men experience noticeable improvement in just a few days, others in a few weeks, the average is about 30 days, while in others it may take up to 2 months - remember in some cases an enlarged prostate has been developing over many years. It is best to continue taking Prostate Miracle® even after the symptoms have improved. This will help maintain optimal prostate health.

I am a diabetic. Is it safe for me to take Prostate Miracle®?

Though the beta sitosterol used in Prostate Miracle® is extracted from sugar cane pulp, the extract is in fact "sugar free". Prostate Miracle® is completely safe for diabetics to use.

I take heart and blood pressure medication. Can I take Prostate Miracle®?

Prostate Miracle® does not have any drug interactions or contraindications; and is completely safe for heart patients or those taking blood pressure medication.

Can Prostate Miracle® help with my sexual dysfunction or decreased libido?

Yes Prostate Miracle® can and often does help increase sexual desire and performance. Because the prostate is part of the reproductive system, it shares the exact same nervous system as the other male sexual organs. And so an enlarged prostate can interfere with normal nerve conduction and can easily effect penile erection and function as well as libido and desire. As Prostate Miracle® works to decrease the size of your enlarged prostate . . . libido, sexual desire and performance typically improve.