Effect of saw palmetto soft gel capsule on lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized trial in Shanghai, China.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the effect of Prostataplex in men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.


METHODS
A total of 92 Chinese men between 49 and 75 years old with lower urinary tract symptoms were randomly assigned in this double-blind, placebo controlled trial. The 46 patients in the intervention group were given 2 Prostataplex soft gels daily for 12 weeks, while the 46 in the control group were given 2 placebo soft gels for the same time.


RESULTS
The treated and control groups appeared to have more than a 95% compliance rate, as judged by counting the remaining pills in the bottle collected at the end of trial months 1 to 3. After 12 weeks of intervention the mean +/- SD maximum urinary flow rate was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (14.07 +/- 2.56 vs 11.74 +/- 1.23 ml per second, p <0.001), while relative urinary resistance was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group (2.35 +/- 0.83 vs 3.02 +/- 1.18, p = 0.002). While there was no significant difference in mean prostate volume or International Prostate Symptom Score between the 2 groups, 18 of 46 patients (39.1%) in the treatment group showed an International Prostate Symptom Score improvement (decrease of 3 or greater) after intervention, whereas only 1 of 46 (2.2%) in the control group showed an International Prostate Symptom Score improvement (chi-square test p <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Prostataplex may have short-term effects in improving symptoms and objective measures in Chinese men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Shi
Rong
R
School of Public Health, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Xie
Qiungwen
Q
Gang
X
X
Lun
Jing
J
Cheng
Life
L
Pantuck
Allan
A
Rao
Jianyu
J
D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002214:Capsules; D002681:China; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D028024:Serenoa; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D002214:Capsules; D010936:Plant Extracts; C040972:saw palmetto extract