title: Long-term efficacy of Serenoa repens treatment in patients with mild and moderate symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of treatment with extract of Serenoa repens (Prostamol Uno) in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) induced by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 120 patients with mild or moderate LUTS induced by BPH, maximal urinary flow (Q(max)) <15 ml with a voided volume ≥150 ml, prostate-specific antigen <4 ng/ml, and residual urinary volume <150 ml, treated daily for 24 months with one capsule of 320 mg ethanolic extract of Serenoa repens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements in the International Prostate Symptom Score (5.5 points), quality of life (QoL; 1.8 points), Q(max) (5.6 ml/s), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF; 6.4 points) and reduction in residual urinary volume were observed during the study period. The mean prostate volume at 24 months was 36 ml, compared to 39.8 ml at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment with 320 mg ethanolic extract of Serenoa repens proved to be efficient in reducing urinary obstruction, improving symptomatology and QoL of BPH patients. It also had a positive effect on sexual function, demonstrated by the statistically significant increase in the IIEF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urological Surgery, Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioanel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sinescu
authors.forename: Petrisor
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geavlete
authors.forename: Razvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Multescu
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gangu
authors.forename: Florin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miclea
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coman
authors.forename: Ioan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ioiart
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambert
authors.forename: Traian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Constantin
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petrut
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feciche
mesh_terms: D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010410:Penile Erection; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011467:Prostate; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D028024:Serenoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000187:drug effects; D014554:Urination
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol