Is green tea good for BPH?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the medical term for an enlarged prostate. There is continuing research into alternative ways to manage the condition, including by drinking green tea.

Polyphenols are the active ingredients in green tea that may be responsible for helping manage benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH.

Polyphenols are chemical compounds found in a category called phytochemicals, which occur naturally in plants.

Various studies have shown that the prostate absorbs polyphenols more easily than other tissues in the body. This suggests that the prostate should be receptive to polyphenols when used in the management of BPH.

Why manage BPH with green tea?

Green tea has increased in popularity and is now the second most consumed beverage in the world.

As a beverage, green tea is an alternative to coffee and soft drinks, with the added health benefits from the polyphenol compounds present.

Polyphenols are plentiful in plant foods, and are:

• antioxidants
• anti-inflammatory
• anti-carcinogenic

What are the active ingredients in green tea?

Green tea's active ingredients include:

• epigallocatechin (EGC)
• gallic acid
• chlorogenic acid
• caffeic acid
• other polyphenols

In recent animal trials and in vitro studies in laboratories, one particular polyphenol called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) appears to have promising results. EGCG reduced the over-production of cells and even prevented the onset of BPH.

What do the studies say?

It is worth noting that most studies into green tea have been done outside the human body, for example, in lab cultures or animals. These studies also use concentrated versions of polyphenols, not the green tea itself, or other whole foods.

Overall, specific polyphenols, some of which occur in green tea, have been found to treat the causes and symptoms of BPH. This suggests that green tea could assist in managing BPH alongside medications and other treatments.

Other health benefits of green tea

Green tea has a wide variety of health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Obesity and diabetes

The benefits of green tea are not only due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The drink may help in the treatment of obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Studies suggest that green tea might help with weight management, alongside exercise and improvement of diet. More studies are needed, however, to confirm the positive effects conclusively.

Metabolic syndrome

Green tea may also be able to assist in glucose control in people with metabolic syndrome.

Furthermore, some studies suggest there is a link between metabolic syndrome and diseases of the prostate.

Metabolic syndrome causes an increase in free radicals in the body. This increases oxidative stress, which is considered a risk factor for developing BPH.

Increasing intake of polyphenol-containing foods such as green tea may help manage metabolic syndrome and other conditions at the same time.

Medical News Today