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Medical review says red clover isoflavones important therapy for prostate health
Friday, 7 February 2003
A review article published in the current issue of Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has found that based on current scientific evidence, isoflavones from red clover extract are an important therapy for promoting prostate health.
The review, entitled ‘Flavonoid and Botanic Approaches to Prostate Health’ was undertaken by Dr Aaron E Katz, Director of the Centre for Holistic Urology and Assistant Professor of Urology at Columbia University in New York.
Dr Phillip Katelaris, a Sydney-based urologist said that prostate problems are common in Australian men and that new evidence on potentially effective treatments was very welcome.
"Given the hesitancy of some prostate patients to undergo surgery or take drugs that sometimes have unwanted side-effects, the emerging evidence on natural approaches is reassuring for both healthcare professionals and their patients. Further research into this significant health problem is to be encouraged,” said Dr Katelaris.
Dr Katz compared research on five natural therapies – saw palmetto, pygeum africanum, curbicin, soy and red clover. He concluded, “Good scientific evidence links isoflavones to improved prostate health. Isoflavone, particularly red clover extract, supplements are likely to be important therapies for promoting prostate health during the watchful-waiting period in patients with BPH.”
Dr Katz stated that supplements containing the highest quantities of aglycone isoflavones per capsule, tablet or serving, are likely to be the most effective phytotherapies for maintaining prostate health. Red clover is a rich source of all four isoflavones (genistein, formononetin, daidzein, and biochanin).
Isoflavones are phytoestrogens found in legumes such as lentils, red clover, chickpeas and soy. Dr Katz states that epidemiological evidence points to the increased risk of enlarged prostate among Western men being due to a much lower intake of isoflavone-containing food compared with their Eastern counterparts.
One in two men over the age of 50 will have some form of prostate or urinary problem. The incidence rises to 80 per cent at 80 years of age1. A common prostate problem is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is enlargement of the prostate tissue that occurs as men age. As the prostate enlarges, it can press against the urethra and the bladder and cause obstructive symptoms, such as increased frequency of urination, increased nightly urination, reduced urine flow rate, intermittency or hesitancy during urination.
The red clover extract used in this study was Trinovin, manufactured by Australian company Novogen. The manuscript was supported by an educational grant from Novogen.
1 Griffiths K, Denis L, Turkes A, Morton M S, Phytoestrogens and diseases of the prostate gland. Baillière’s Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 1998; 12(4); 625-647
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