Evidence supporting the use of: Beta-sitosterol
For the body system: Prostate

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Beta-sitosterol is a plant sterol commonly used to support prostate health, particularly in relation to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. Scientific studies have investigated its efficacy, with several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses suggesting that beta-sitosterol can improve urinary symptoms associated with BPH. For example, a 1999 meta-analysis published in the journal Lancet reviewed four randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials involving 519 men and found that beta-sitosterol significantly improved urinary symptom scores and flow measures compared to placebo. The mechanism is thought to involve inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase, anti-inflammatory effects, or interference with the binding of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to prostate tissue.

However, while improvements in symptoms have been reported, there is no evidence that beta-sitosterol reduces prostate size, and the duration of most studies has been limited to 6 months or less. Side effects are generally mild. Beta-sitosterol has a long history of traditional use in various phytotherapeutic preparations for prostate health in Europe, but the primary justification for its use today is based on modern clinical research. Based on the available evidence, the strength of support for beta-sitosterol in prostate health is moderate (rated 3/5), with consistent findings of symptom improvement but limited data on long-term outcomes or disease modification.

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