Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BHP) otherwise known as enlarged prostate, affects up to 60% of men over age 40.
If there is also a rise in Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels there may be real risk of malignancy. It is, therefore, important to know the risk factors – some of which can be identified in clinic through mineral assessment.
With regard to BPH, three common factors have been identified – all of which can be remedied.
Iodine Deficiency
Iodine is essential for all endocrine tissue – not only the thyroid gland. Deficiency causes hypertrophy or goitre in the thyroid, as well as cyst development and hypertrophy in other endocrine tissue. In males, it is the prostate tissue that is most likely to be affected.
Selenium and Zinc Deficiency
A majority of cases of BPH seen throughout a 6-year period also displayed both selenium and zinc deficiency. These are essential nutrients for prostate health and prevention of free radical damage.
Phthalates
The group of chemicals known as phthalates, found in personal care products as well as food grade plastics, are a known cause of prostate hypertrophy.1 The gold standard test to determine these chemicals is the Chemical Toxicity panel via frozen urine sample. These tests are expensive and sometimes testing for heavy metals can indicate phthalate toxicity through elevated levels of antimony. Antimony is a toxic element and a component in many phthalate by-products including PET food grade plastic.
Gut Permeability
In addition to mineral deficiencies and chemical toxicity, gut permeability has frequently been linked with BPH. Gut permeability results in partially digested foods and other substances passing through the gut lining into the pelvic cavity and blood stream, which can be another source of toxicity.
To arrange your personalised assessment and mineral analysis, contact us on 07 -5530 1863 today.
Source:
Jon Gamble BA ND AdvDipHom
1 https://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pubmed/30125794; https://www.endocrine-abstracts.ord/ea/0029/ea0029p751