The Use of a Combination of Vaccinium Macracarpon, Lycium barbarum L. and Probiotics (Bifiprost®) for the Prevention of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis: A Double-Blind Randomized Study

Urol Int. 2019;103(4):423-426. doi: 10.1159/000502765. Epub 2019 Sep 17.

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy of Bifiprost® + Serenoa Repens 320 mg versus Serenoa Repens 320 mg alone for the prevention of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) due to enterobacteriaceae.

Methods: Between September 2016 and September 2018, 120 patients with CBP at the National Institutes of Health (NIH type II) with recurrent infections due to enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia Coli and Enterococcus faecalis) were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups each to receive Bifiprost® + Serenoa Repens 320 mg (Group A) or Serenoa Repens 320 mg alone (Group B) daily for 24 weeks (after receiving a proper antibiotic treatment with subsequent culture negativization). The primary endpoint was the reduction in the episodes of prostatitis. The secondary endpoint evaluated was the score of the NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Evaluation was performed at baseline and at 12, 24, and 36 weeks.

Results: The patients of the Group A experienced a significantly larger reduction in the prostatitis episodes than the Group B at 24 and 36 weeks, but they did not experience a significantly larger reduction at 12 weeks. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean NIH-CPSI score was reduced in both groups compared with baselines, but no significant differences were seen between the Group A and Group B. On the contrary, we observed a significant difference in the mean NIH-CPSI score between the 2 groups at 24 and 36 weeks.

Conclusion: The association of Bifiprost® and Serenoa Repens 320 mg improves the prevention of the episodes of CBP due to enterobacteriaceae and ameliorates prostatitis-related symptoms after 6 months of therapy. The long-term impact on the entero-urinary route was also seen 3 months after the end of the treatment.

Keywords: Entero-urinary route; Inflammation; Probiotic; Prostate; Prostatitis; Symptoms.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacterial Infections / prevention & control*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Lycium*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Probiotics*
  • Prostatitis / microbiology*
  • Prostatitis / prevention & control*
  • Serenoa
  • Vaccinium macrocarpon*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • saw palmetto extract