A prospective study of the efficacy of Serenoa repens, tamsulosin, and Serenoa repens plus tamsulosin treatment for patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.
BACKGROUND
Increasing attention has been focused on the use of phytotherapeutic agents to alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in recent times. The best described and studied phytotherapeutic agent is Serenoa repens (SR).


METHODS
This prospective study was designed to have 3 arms including SR 320 mg per day (N = 20), Tamsulosin (TAM) 0.4 mg per day (N = 20) and SR + TAM (N = 20) to reveal the superiority or equivalence between these treatment regimens in BPH.


RESULTS
The groups were not statistically different with regard to increase in maximal urinary flow rate (Q (max)) and decrease in International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) (P > 0.05). No adverse effect was detected in SR therapy group.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of BPH by both SR and TAM seems to be effective alone. None of them had superiority to another and additionally, combined therapy (SR + TAM) does not provide extra benefits. Furthermore SR is a well-tolerated agent that can be used alternatively in the treatment of LUTS due to BPH.
Hizli
Fatih
F
Department of Urology, Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. fatihhizli33@yahoo.com
Uygur
M Cemil
MC
D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D028024:Serenoa; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D058668:Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077409:Tamsulosin; C040972:saw palmetto extract