title: Serenoa repens, selenium and lycopene to manage lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a disease affecting most of the elderly male. α1-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are currently used to target lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Moreover phytotherapeutic agents, including Serenoa Repens (SeR), have shown to have a role in ameliorating BPH/LUTS alone or in combination of other elements like Selenium (Se) and Lycopene (Ly). Areas covered: A literature review was performed using data from articles assessing the role of of SeR+Se+Ly in the management of LUTS secondary to BPH. Diverging evidence on SeR's efficacy is available. On one hand several studies have shown SeR efficacy in treating BPH/LUTS. SeR is effective in reducing prostate size, urinary frequency, dysuria, nocturia and in improving maximum urine flow-rate. On the other hand two long-term trials reported that SeR did not improve prostate size or urinary flow. SeR+Se+Ly in combination with tamsulosin is more effective than single therapies in improving IPSS and increasing maximal urinary flow-rate in patients affected by LUTS/BPH. Expert opinion: Despite great amount of preclinical and clinical studies, the use of SeR in BPH/LUTS is not sustained by clear evidence for a therapeutic efficacy but current data hint higher efficacy of of SeR+Se+Ly compared to SeR alone.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capogrosso
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Croce
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ventimiglia
authors.affiliation: b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boeri
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|c Research Doctorate Program in Urology , Magna Graecia University , Catanzaro , Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.affiliation: c Research Doctorate Program in Urology , Magna Graecia University , Catanzaro , Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Urology , Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.|b Division of Oncology/Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute , Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salonia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000077276:Lycopene; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028024:Serenoa / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D002338:Carotenoids; D012643:Selenium; D000077276:Lycopene
keywords: BPH; LUTS; Serenoa repens; phytotherapy; prostate inflammation