Comprehensive Prostate Formula contains potent levels of synergistic herbs, nutrients and phytochemicals that have been scientifically researched to support the health and wellness of the prostate gland.* This formula incorporates premier herbal extracts of Saw palmetto, African Pygeum bark and Stinging Nettle root, CardioAid™ plant sterols, and SelenoExcell®, a superior form of the mineral selenium, nutrients that have shown documented benefits for prostate health.
Comprehensive Prostate Formula also contains effective amounts of vitamins D3 and B6, zinc, and lycopene, which research suggests play important roles in supporting optimal prostate function and general health and well-being.*
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Suggested Adult Use: Take 4 capsules daily with food, preferably in divided doses twice daily.
Comprehensive Prostate Formula contains potent levels of synergistic herbs, nutrients and phytochemicals that have been scientifically researched to support the health and wellness of the prostate gland.* This formula incorporates premier herbal extracts of Saw palmetto, African Pygeum bark and Stinging Nettle root, CardioAid™ plant sterols, and SelenoExcell®, a superior form of the mineral selenium, nutrients that have shown documented benefits for prostate health.
Comprehensive Prostate Formula also contains effective amounts of vitamins D3 and B6, zinc, and lycopene, which research suggests play important roles in supporting optimal prostate function and general health and well-being.*
Comprehensive support for prostate health*
Supports normal urinary function and flow.*
Saw palmetto extract is one of the world's leading herbal products for prostate support. Widely-cited clinical studies conducted in the past two decades suggest that saw palmetto extract is beneficial for prostate health and urinary function.1 For example, in a large open trial, 505 men took 320mg of saw palmetto extract daily for three months. Relatively quickly, positive results were recognized using various measurements such as quality of life score, urinary flow rates, and residual urinary volume.2 The changes in prostate health that accompany middle age are related to the hormone DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, a metabolite of testosterone. DHT levels rise, and DHT binds to prostate cells, accelerating growth of prostate tissue. Saw palmetto extract acts in part through its inhibition of 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that controls conversion of testosterone to DHT.3, 4
Experimental evidence suggests saw palmetto extract blocks the binding of DHT to prostate cells.5 The fatty acids and sterols in saw palmetto are believed to be responsible for these actions.6 These include oleic acid, lauric acid, campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and others. The saw palmetto in Comprehensive Prostate Formula is standardized to contain 290mg fatty acids and sterols, matching the amount of extract used in some successful clinical studies.
Like saw palmetto, African pygeum bark extract contains natural sterols and fatty acids, and purified extracts of it have been used in Europe for decades. Although the mechanisms for its effect have not been clearly established, animal experiments suggest pygeum may work by inhibiting growth factors in prostate cells.7 The pentacyclic triterpenoids and esters of long-chain fatty alcohols in pygeum, and the phytosterols, especially the β-sitosterols, are thought to be the active components.8 Pygeum extract is believed to promote healthy prostate function by decreasing hypersensitivity of the detrusor muscle, inhibiting cell proliferation, and maintaining prostate architecture.3
Nettle, also known as "stinging nettle," grows wild in forests and fields throughout North America and Europe. Traditionally, nettle root has been used as an enhancer of healthy urinary flow and as an astringent.8 As far back as 1950, German investigators have observed favorable effects on the prostate with the use of nettle root. These initial findings have been confirmed through case studies, as well as double-blind studies, published mainly in German medical journals. In a double blind study of 134 men, a combination of nettle root extract and pygeum extract taken over a period of 56 days proved effective in promoting healthy urine flow.9 While the specific active ingredients in nettle for prostate support have not been positively identified, nettle's effect on the prostate may stem from its content of polysaccharides and isolectin.10 Additionally, it contains lignans that prevent testosterone action that is adverse to prostate health.11
A long-term clinical study of 257 men used a combination of saw palmetto and stinging nettle together, revealing efficacy, safety, and a high acceptance level among the research subjects.12 These researchers used this combination because previous researchers had suggested that there is a synergistic interaction when saw palmetto and nettle are used together for maintenance of prostate health and urinary flow. The subjects taking the combination of herbs in this study reported better results (than those taking placebo) on a quality of life index and selfrating questionnaires that assessed the health of the men’s lower urinary tract. A follow-up study on 219 of these men continued to show the same positive trends, including tolerance of the plant extracts, at 96 weeks from baseline.13
The selected vitamins and minerals in Comprehensive Prostate Formula are known to be especially important for prostate health.* Both vitamin E and vitamin B-6 intake were associated with maintenance of a healthy prostate in a study of 27,133 male smokers in Finland, aged 50-69.14 Since vitamin B-6 can inhibit steroid hormone interactions in the body, a deficiency of vitamin B-6 may expose men to levels of hormones that are counterproductive to prostate health. Similarly, prostaglandins are hormonelike substances that may interfere with healthy prostate maintenance15; vitamin E can act as an antagonist to prostaglandins.
The relationship between vitamin D and prostate health is complex. Although both diet and sunlight increase men's vitamin D status, low vitamin D levels are nevertheless all too common in North America.16 Recently, researchers discovered that genetic factors combined with a low vitamin D status might adversely affect prostate health in some men.17
The accumulation of zinc in the prostate has numerous beneficial effects and has been widely studied.18 In an older male population, supplemental zinc can provide for normal blood levels of this crucial mineral.19 Comprehensive Prostate Formula includes zinc citrate, a form of zinc that researchers suggest will enhance prostate health by blocking extracellular zinc signaling.20 When supplementing with zinc, copper supplementation is also advised; therefore, a small amount of copper has been added to this formula to balance the zinc.
Comprehensive Prostate Formula now includes more selenium as SelenoExcell®, a form of selenium experimentally proven to reduce prostate epithelial cell DNA damage in an animal model, upon daily supplementation.21 Selenium is well known for its role in increasing glutathione peroxidase activity, which in turn empowers cellular antioxidant abilities. Men with low blood concentrations of selenium have a harder time maintaining a healthy prostate.22
Lycopene was first implicated as a benefactor of prostate health through epidemiologic studies. As a carotenoid, lycopene is known to be effective due to its antioxidant power; however, this free radical scavenging activity is not the only mechanism by which lycopene enacts a protective effect on the prostate. Lycopene also exerts biochemical influence through cell communication channels and the signaling of cytokines, growth factors, and hormones.23 Lycopene helps maintain tissue homeostasis (the healthy functioning of cell communities) through its ability to enhance communication across cell junctions of adjacent cells. Lycopene has been shown to increase animal levels of detoxifying enzymes, such as the above-mentioned glutathione peroxidase. Additionally, lycopene was shown to downplay androgen production in an animal model by the same mechanism of action as saw palmetto, inhibition of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme.
Comprehensive Prostate Formula now includes CardioAid™ beta-sitosterols. These plant sterols are antagonists to prostaglandin metabolism through their inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase, thus benefiting the prostate in a manner similar to the vitamin E included in our proprietary blend of ingredients.24 β-sitosterol has found success in multiple studies examining its effects on prostate health and healthy urine flow. A systemic review of such studies lauded the efficacy, safety, and subject acceptance of β-sitosterol in prostate studies.25 Additionally, a subsequent follow-up study of 117 men concluded that the prostatic actions of β-sitosterol remained effective during longterm use, without major side effects during the study.26
Comprehensive Prostate Formula approaches prostate and urinary health from both a botanical and a nutritive perspective, with sufficient quantities of ingredients that have been extensively studied in research trials around the world. Although the mechanisms of action are not fully discovered, there appears to be synergistic benefits to combining the botanical ingredients included in this formula.
Tasca, A., et al., Minerva Urol Nefrol, 1985. 37(1): p. 87-91.
Braeckman, J., Current Therapeutic Research, 1994. 55(7): p. 776-785.
Dvorkin, L. and K.Y. Ann Pharmacother, 2002. 36(9): p. 1443-52.
Marks, L.S., et al., Urology, 2001. 57(5): p. 999-1005.
Sultan, C., et al., J Steroid Biochem, 1984. 20(1): p. 515-519.
Weisser, H., et al., The Prostate, 1996. 28: p. 300-306.
Yablonsky, F., et al., J Urol, 1997. 157(6): p. 2381-7.
Wilt, T.J., et al., Public Health Nutr, 2000. 3(4A): p. 459-72.
Krzeski, T., et al., Clin Ther, 1993. 15(6): p. 1011-20.
Wagner, H., et al., Phytomedicine, 1994. 1: p. 213-224.
Yarnell, E., World J Urol, 2002. 20(5): p. 285-93.
Lopatkin, N., et al., World J Urol, 2005. 23(2): p. 139-46.
Lopatkin, N., et al., Int Urol Nephrol, 2007. 39(4): p. 1137-46.
Weinstein, S.J., et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2006. 84(4): p. 929-35.
Santillo, V.M. and F.C. Int Braz J Urol, 2006. 32(1): p. 3-14.
Trump, D.L., et al., BJU Int, 2009.
Ahn, J., et al., Carcinogenesis, 2009. 30(5): p. 769-76.
Franklin, R.B. and L.C. Costello, Arch Biochem Biophys, 2007. 463(2): p. 211-7.
Costello, L.C. and R.B. Franklin, Mol Cancer, 2006. 5: p. 17.
Dubi, N., et al., Carcinogenesis, 2008. 29(9): p. 1692-700.
Waters, D.J., et al., J Natl Cancer Inst, 2003. 95(3): p. 237-41.
Duffield-Lillico, A.J., et al., BJU Int, 2003. 91(7): p. 608-12.
Wertz, K., U. Siler, and R. Goralczyk, Arch Biochem Biophys, 2004. 430(1): p. 127-34.
Dreikorn, K., Curr Urol Rep, 2000. 1(2): p. 103-9.
Wilt, T.J., R. MacDonald, and A. Ishani, BJU Int, 1999. 83(9): p. 976-83.
Berges, R.R., A. Kassen, and T. Senge, BJU International, 2000. 85(7): p. 842-846.
The cellulose is derived from alpha cellulose from softwood pulp. This softwood pulp may be derived from hemlock, spruce or other soft woods. It is made by cooking raw plant fiber in an aqueous solution to separate the cellulose, and then purified. It then goes through extra processing to further break down the fiber. The finished product contains no residual solvents. Excipients are needed to make the materials flow into the capsule and are extremely minute in amounts and are safe.
Q2.
I am somewhat confused on how to take the DRB products. On many of the labels the Suggested Adult Use will list something along the lines of: Take 2 capsules daily, but it does not state whether they should be taken together or separately. What is the correct usage?
A2.
Unless otherwise specified on the label, the product may be taken together or separately.
Q3.
Is there a limit to how many vitamins can be taken safely in one day?
A3.
While our bodies need vitamins and minerals, like other things, if taken in large amounts they may adversely affect health. Large amounts of anything can be toxic. It is important to follow all label directions and discuss any concerns with your physician.
Q4.
What are the other ingredients and why are they used?
A4.
These are used as flow agents and aid in the production to keep the machinery running smoothly and the capsules filling correctly. Similarly for the croscarmellose sodium, which is cellulose (sourced from the cell walls of green plants), and is used to help disintegrate the tablet in the stomach.
Q5.
What is Silicon Dioxide and how is it produced?
A5.
Silicon dioxide is the most abundant mineral in the Earth’s crust, and it is found across the world in various forms. Silicon dioxide (SiO2) in its pure form is colorless to white. Precipitated synthetic amorphous silicas are obtained from a process essentially using sand.
Precipitated silica is a safe (non-crystalline) mineral. According to the relevant United States and European Union standards, precipitated silica is non-hazardous with regard to manufacture, transportation and handling. Precipitated silica is an inert powder and a certified food and feed additive.
Q6.
Should I be concerned when I see that Silicon Dioxide has been used as an excipient in DRB products?
A6.
According to numerous studies reviewed to date on this long-term Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) listed food additive, the following was found:
The oral toxicity in mice is greater than (>) 5 grams/kilogram of body weight (Kimmerle 1968), or greater than 350 grams in one dose in humans based on allometric comparisons between mice and humans.
A single dose of 2.5 grams of amorphous polymeric silicon dioxide to human volunteers did not significantly raise the SiO2 excretion in the urine thus suggesting poor absorption of the compound (silicon dioxide)--(Langendorf 1966). Less than one one-hundredth (1000th) of the dose was found in urine, suggesting extremely poor absorption--(Langendorf 1966).
This would suggest that there is no scientific reason to eliminate silicon dioxide as an excipient at the very low levels found in dietary supplements.
For further information re: Silicon dioxide, see "Minerals, Trace Elements and Human Health, 4th Edition."
Q7.
Why is silicon dioxide used as an excipient in DRB products?
A7.
Silicon Dioxide is commonly used as a flow agent in supplements. It also works as an anti-caking agent, and is added as an ingredient in foods, many multivitamins and mineral supplements because silicon is necessary for good health and is a necessary nutrient for the health of skin, hair, nails and bones.
Q8.
It seems that information is now out claiming that magnesium stearate is a form of, or implicated in, trans fat, which everyone now regards as being bad. Why does Doctor’s Best use magnesium stearate in its products?
A8.
Magnesium Stearate is used to work as a lubricant in the formula. Magnesium Stearate is a salt of stearic acid. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid. A trans fatty acid (commonly shortened to trans fat) is an unsaturated fatty acid molecule. Stearic acid, being a saturated fatty acid, is not a trans fat. The magnesium stearate used in Doctor’s Best products is vegetable sourced from palm oil.
Q9.
What is cellulose and modified cellulose produced from?
A9.
Southern pine and spruce.
Q10.
Since Doctor's Best does not manufacture its supplements, how are the purity and integrity of supplements verified? In addition, how are your prices lower than other brands? Does this mean that quality is being compromised?
A10.
Doctor's Best supplements are manufactured in the US at cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) certified facilities. All of our manufacturers and suppliers go through our vendor qualification program, which includes inspections and testing, before we agree to work with them. Our finished products have also been tested at the raw material level, in process, and as a finished product to ensure safety and quality. We place the highest importance on safety and quality and do not compromise for the sake of a better price point. The price points are lower because of production size and the overall business structure. We also place great importance on making our supplements available and affordable to those who need them most.
Q11.
What is HPLC?
A11.
HPLC stands for "High Performance Liquid Chromatography." This is an analytical lab testing method that is used to quantify the active ingredients. It is considered to be a very sensitive and accurate test. HPLC testing is a tool recognized as a quality benchmark for herbal extracts.
Q12.
Does cellulose interfere with the absorption of supplements?
A12.
Dietary fiber in general is known to change intestinal viscosity, nutrient absorption, transit time, and gut hormones. Although there is some evidence from animal studies that large amounts of cellulose in the diet (6-12% of diet) can interfere with nutrient absorption (particularly minerals), there is no evidence that the small amount in capsules interfere with nutrient absorption, as there are many pharmacokinetic studies that have been conducted with nutrients in cellulose capsules, demonstrating the ability of the nutrients to be effectively absorbed.
Q13.
Is the carbon dioxide used in the extraction process of Comprehensive Prostate Formula super critical?
A13.
Yes, the carbon dioxide used in the extraction process is super critical.
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