Treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome category IIIA with Serenoa repens plus selenium and lycopene (Profluss) versus S. repens alone: an Italian randomized multicenter-controlled study

Urol Int. 2010;84(4):400-6. doi: 10.1159/000302716. Epub 2010 Mar 24.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens + selenium and lycopene (Profluss) versus S. repens alone for the treatment of category IIIa chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Patients and methods: 102 patients with IIIa CP/CPPS were enrolled and randomized into two groups each to receive Profluss or S. repens alone for 8 weeks. Evaluation was based on results of the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), IPSS, maximum peak flow rate (MPFR), and PSA measurements at baseline and at weeks 4, 8 and 8 after the end of treatment. The primary endpoint was a >50% reduction in NIH-CPSI score. Secondary endpoints evaluated were MPFR, IPSS, PSA and white blood cell count.

Results: No patients withdrew from the study. The mean NIH-CPSI score decreased significantly (p < 0.001) in both groups; we observed a decrease in the total score from 27.45 to 13.27 in group 1 (-51.64%) and from 27.76 to 20.62 in group 2 (-26.06%). IPSS improved significantly (p < 0.001) in both arms, but more in group 1. PSA and white blood cell count decreased significantly (p < 0.007) only in group 1. The MPFR improved more in group 1 (p < 0.005).

Conclusion: Profluss is a triple therapy that is safe and well tolerated. It ameliorates symptoms associated with IIIa CP/CPPS.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carotenoids / adverse effects
  • Carotenoids / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Combinations
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lycopene
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pelvic Pain / blood
  • Pelvic Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pelvic Pain / physiopathology
  • Pelvic Pain / urine
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood
  • Prostatitis / blood
  • Prostatitis / drug therapy*
  • Prostatitis / physiopathology
  • Prostatitis / urine
  • Selenium / adverse effects
  • Selenium / therapeutic use*
  • Serenoa*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Syndrome
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Urine / cytology
  • Urodynamics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Plant Extracts
  • Carotenoids
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • Selenium
  • Lycopene