Many practitioners and patients seem to think that Zinc is a cure-all for all prostate-related problems, or that
they all result from insufficient zinc intake, however only an enlarged prostate (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy),
or BPH, is at times linked to below-normal levels of zinc. Subsequently, with some exceptions, nutritional
supplements used in the treatment of BPH will generally not work for Prostatitis, or may have to be avoided.
Prostatitis presents with above-normal, to typically very high cellular levels of zinc, and symptoms are
invariably worsened by either supplementing extra zinc, consuming foods that are high in zinc, or by any
other aspects or dietary lifestyle that synergistically promotes greater zinc retention.
Some individuals claim that their condition improved after supplementing zinc, but it always turns out that they
either did not have Prostatitis in the first place - i.e. they self-diagnosed their condition, or a misdiagnosis
was made by an unqualified practitioner.
However, even qualified urologists frequently disagree on the proper classification of the disorder and/or the
best course of treatment, unless a patient presents with a conclusive, lab-supported case of acute bacterial
prostatitis. The reason is simply that the term "Prostatitis" over the years has become synonymous with a
variety of symptoms that include bacterial and non-bacterial Prostatitis, prostatodynia, proctalgia (rectal pain),
CPPS (chronic pelvic pain syndrome), interstitial cystitis, and also Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, for which
zinc supplementation may actually be indicated and beneficial.
Commonly agreed upon causes of Bacterial Prostatitis include pathogens such as escherichia coli (E. coli),
found in about 90% of patients, or proteus, enterobacter, pseudomonas, streptococcus and staphylococcus,
serratia, untreated yeast infections and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and there are additional
considerations of tuberculosis (tuberculous prostatitis), and other viral or bacterial infections. However it is
agreed, that better than 90% of chronic prostate complaints are related to Non-Bacterial Prostatitis (with
negative laboratory findings, or no documented culture), for which antibiotics are not effective or indicated,
and where generally no particular cause is found.
When non-specific rheumatoid-types of symptoms are experienced in addition to prostate pain, a low-level
chronic systemic infection is suspect that may result secondary to oral focation (sinuses, tonsils, teeth, gums),
or other areas in the body. In those cases, all symptoms readily disappear when the problem area is identi-
fied and resolved. With odontogenic disturbances, the distal irritation is always ipsilateral, so for the purpose
of identifying any Prostatitis involvement, only left-sided foci would be a consideration.
While it is recognized that Prostatitis can generate Referred Pain in other locations (usually the lower back,
but also dental pain, which coincides with flare-ups of Prostatitis), both upper and lower incisors likewise are
capable of triggering chronic Genitourinary Pain.
The left side involving the 1st + 2nd upper or lower odonton is prostate / uterine-specific, and the right side
involving the 1st + 2nd upper or lower odonton is bladder-specific, having the potential of causing chronic
Prostatitis (left side), or interstitial or chronic cystitis (right side). In a couple of patients I have been able to
trace the cause to failed root canal work, where their symptoms promptly and permanently disappeared
following additional endodontal intervention, with no other treatments required.
It is not unusual for some men to experience left-sided Sciatic Pain in addition to prostate pain and burning,
since most cases of non-surgical sciatica involve a zinc / potassium ratio conflict. Correcting the patient's
Zn / K ratio will not only resolve sciatic pain, but any related prostate pain as well, provided zinc levels are
normal. This can be accomplished through nutritional intervention (food, supplements), or through needle, or
needle-less electro-Acupuncture.
Although the use of acupuncture would appear to be symptomatic therapy, one of the long-term effects of
embedding needles in patients' ears for ongoing pain relief includes changes in a patient's chemical profile --
i.e. when the corresponding sciatic area in the ear was treated, there would eventually be a change with
cellular zinc and potassium levels. This would explain the permanent pain relief some patients experience
following certain types of acupuncture treatments, unlike - or in addition to - the supposed endorphin effect.
In some cases, stomach acid-lowering medications appear to help improve Prostatitis symptoms, which is
likely due to the calcium-raising effect that many of these types of stomach remedies exhibit. Calcium is not
only a very potent zinc antagonist, but it has significant anti-inflammatory properties as well. When taking
larger amounts of calcium, it may be prudent to include higher doses of Vitamin D for its (prostate) cancer-
protective properties also.
Since mainstream medicine does not have a very good track record in the successful treatment of Chronic
Prostatitis (CP) - particularly abacterial varieties, many men look into alternative methods trying to resolve
their problem, and they frequently end up using a shotgun approach by combining all the advice gathered
from various sources.
Herbs commonly recommended for prostatitis include Pygeum, which is the bark of the African prune tree,
Stinging Nettle, and Goldenseal. There are also a few anecdotal success stories involving the use of
Cranberry Juice, and the flavonoid Quercetin. However, while adequate amounts of bioflavonoids (0 - 25
micromol/L) provide many health benefits, large amounts of quercetin (50 - 250 micromol/L), recommended
by some advocates for Prostatitis, have been found to induce cytotoxicity and DNA damage in a number of
rat studies.
Antibacterial remedies that have proven successful in the treatment of other inflammatory conditions may
be a consideration for Prostatitis sufferers who have not had much luck with any other alternative remedies.
They include the regular intake of a higher dose of fresh or freeze-dried Garlic, Turmeric, Sulforaphane
capsules, Mastic gum, and any of a number of Probiotic-type (friendly bacteria) supplements consisting of
Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidus.
Sulforaphane was originally studied for its cancer-inhibiting properties, but was subsequently also found to be
effective in the treatment of H. Pylori, a bacteria responsible for causing stomach ulcers, heart, gum and skin
diseases, migraine headaches, asthma, and cancer. Broccoli sprouts contain anywhere from 30x to 50x the
amount of sulforaphane compared to the mature plants, with supplements being available from a low of 150
mcg to over 2,000 mcg / cap.
The herb Saw Palmetto, or Phytosterols are routinely recommended for the symptomatic treatment of
an Enlarged Prostate (BPH). While some practitioners recommend these for Prostatitis also, none of the
patients I have treated for Prostatitis and who had tried either saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, or other sterols
and sterolins, had found them to be helpful for that condition.
Since saw palmetto possesses alpha-5-reductase inhibitory activity (either inhibiting the conversion of testos-
terone to dihydrotestosterone, or blocking some effects of testosterone), its use has also been recommended
in the treatment of male-pattern hair loss.
Dietary considerations include the avoidance of foods high in zinc (shellfish, herring, organ meats, wheat-
germ, soybeans, and some seeds and nuts), which for some men may be difficult to follow, so supplementing
zinc antagonists (see below), may be a more convenient approach. There are some claims that alcohol, cola
drinks, coffee, and chocolate have an adverse effect on Prostatitis as well.
While zinc is pro-inflammatory, Copper is anti-inflammatory and also a zinc antagonist, so for some of those
suffering from Prostatitis, a higher intake of copper-rich foods, or short-term copper supplementation can be
helpful. Unfortunately, a considerable percentage of the population suffers from copper overload, which would
therefore prohibit additional copper intake for most Prostatitis patients.
Due to the paired association of Potassium and Zinc, high potassium-containing foods or beverages should
also be avoided because of the pro-inflammatory effect of high potassium intake on the bladder, which often
has a negative effect on the prostate as well. For instance, chronic and acute bladder infections (cystitis)
necessitate a potassium-lowering approach, which - with some exceptions (structural bladder problems after
surgery, or prolapse) - will resolve most chronic inflammatory bladder problems, while interstitial cystitis (IC)
requires a potassium-raising approach.
B-Complex has a zinc and potassium-raising effect, so higher amounts should not be supplemented.
However as mentioned above, this only applies to Prostatitis but not BPH, which may actually benefit from an
increase of B-Complex vitamins, including potassium. (for details, see "Zinc / Potassium," and "B-Complex").
In contrast to testicular cancer, which presents with very high cellular zinc levels (left side) or very high cellular
potassium levels (right side), Prostate Cancer is seen with both, excessive anddeficient zinc levels, in
addition to elevated phosphate levels, so maintaining a normal phosphorus and zinc status is important from
a preventive aspect.
It is interesting to note that prostate cancer is also more prevalent with below-normal free testosterone levels
(more common), and above-normal free testosterone levels (less common), which necessitates a similar
preventive approach of trying to maintain normal testosterone levels throughout one's lifetime, in addition to
following general guidelines of inhibiting the aromatase enzyme to reduce estradiol.
Some practical, clinical considerations for the treatment of Prostatitis and BPH:
• Since there may be more than one possible cause, a detailed diary should be kept of one's daily food and
beverage intake, along with other activities (prolonged sitting...), to isolate, and subsequently help eliminate
all potential causes of either Chronic Prostatitis, occasional flare-ups of Prostatitis, and/or other prostate-
related problems, including symptoms accompanying an enlarged prostate (BPH).
• Lowering cellular zinc levels through diet and supplementation provides the most effective, safest, and
cheapest treatment approach for the great majority of Chronic Prostatitis sufferers, with the most common
zinc antagonists consisting of Vitamin C, Calcium + Vit D, Selenium, Folic Acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1,
and at times Iron - but rarely Copper - as individually indicated.
• If digestive problems (i.e. bowel disturbances) accompany flare-ups of Prostatitis, one should look into a
potential intolerance to specific foods or beverages, including diets containing a lot of hot spices (chili / black
pepper, cajun, curry), or a high Oxalic Acid content such as found in rhubarb, Swiss chard, spinach, parsley,
beets / beet greens, carrots, peanuts, or cocoa products. Some berries (particularly blueberries), can also
cause flare-ups of Prostatitis in prone individuals.
• Foods contaminated with pathogens such as E.coli, that may be present on greens or lettuce (even after
careful washing), or in under-cooked meats, are a well-known trigger for Bacterial Prostatitis. If antibiotics
have failed to improve the symptoms of Bacterial Prostatitis, a combination of cranberry juice or extract, and
sulforaphane caps in the 500 mcg / day range - or 2,000 mcg twice a week - may be an option following an
initially higher dose of 2,000 - 6,000 mcg / day, until symptoms are brought under control.
The use of prostate and bacteria-specific Nosodes may be required in more resistant cases, which may
only be available through a medical practitioner. [Nosodes are remedies that are made up of pathogens or
diseased tissue of the same type as being treated, but are highly potentized to trigger an immune response].
• If left-sided sciatica accompanies prostate pain, providing relief for sciatica usually reduces prostate pain
as well. While supplementing zinc alone would theoretically help left-sided sciatica, this does not always
normalize a low zinc / high potassium ratio since increased zinc levels may boost potassium levels also,
so instead, one needs to supplement Chelated Chromium in the 1000 mcg - 3000 mcg range, since
chromium supports zinc retention, while lowering potassium at the same time. This will correct a patient's
zinc / potassium ratio, and with it any related spinal alignment problems.
However, zinc may be added if its levels are well below normal and if the pain is not due to Prostatitis.
Needle acupuncture, or especially needle-less electro-acupuncture may also be a consideration, which will
simultaneously provide relief from sciatic and prostatic pain.
• If nutritional supplements are used to treat Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, then depending on its deficiency,
Chelated Zinc in the 10 mg - 100 mg range can be part of a formulation to help shrink the prostate, and may
include Saw Palmetto, Ginseng, Vit A, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Melatonin, Nettle Root extract, Pygeum and
others. With the exception of Prostatitis, eating Pumpkin Seeds regularly provides all-round benefits for many
urinary / prostate-related complaints, while many cold and allergy types-of medications have a reputation of
worsening symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
Since a declining testosterone / estrogen ratio is a major factor in the development of BPH, a more simplified
approach - to reduce estradiol levels - consists of using 250 - 500 mg of Milk Thistle per day, along with zinc
(if still required) and potassium, which will not only resolve the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, but reduce
the risk of prostate cancer as well.
• Chronic Prostatitis can develop secondary to suffering from ongoing bouts of Interstitial Cystitis, in which
case - and unless IC is "referred pain" related - a higher intake of supplemental potassium will resolve the
interstitial cystitis, and any symptoms related to Prostatitis.
Since the average adult male requires close to 5,000 mg or more of potassium per day, the actual amount
required through supplementation (to keep bladder / prostate-related symptoms under control), depend on a
patient's androgen status (DHEA), whose decline with age reduces potassium retention (requiring higher
intake), and they depend on how much potassium one gets from the diet.
A meal containing beans and potatoes may provide twice as much potassium as a meal consisting of rice and chicken, so supplemental requirements could range from a few hundred mg, to over a couple of thousand
mg of potassium per day, depending also on other high-potassium sources consumed.
Excessive potassium intake may trigger symptoms ranging from frequent urination, to those of a bladder
infection (cystitis), which unfortunately are also similar to those symptoms experienced with a low potassium
status, except for a reduced volume of urine voided, and the potential of developing incontinence.
Just like acute, chronic, or interstitial cystitis go hand in hand with abnormally high, or abnormally low cellular
levels of potassium (save for structural causes), Prostatitis and Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy go hand in hand
with abnormally high cellular levels of zinc (prostatitis), and often below-normal cellular levels of zinc (BPH).
When there is a history of Prostatitis, zinc should be used with caution when treating an enlarged
prostate, otherwise one may simply trade one set of symptoms (BPH) for another (Prostatitis).
Instead, one can either follow a testosterone-boosting strategy to maintain normal zinc levels by using supple-
ments such as Puncture Vine (tribulus terrestris), wild green Oats (avena sativa), Ginseng, Muira Puama,
Nettle Root, or the flavonoid Chrysin (+ piperine, a pepper extract to help absorb chrysin), which will either
boost testosterone levels, or reduce SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin).
Or, as mentioned earlier, one can take Milk Thistle to reduce estrogen (estradiol), which is frequently just as
effective to successfully treat BPH, however with a history of prostatitis, only potassium - but not zinc is added
to that regimen. It is also recommended to prevent exposure to other dietary sources of estrogen (hormone-
raised meat products), and chemicals that mimic estrogen such as Bisphenol A, which is releases when
heating foods or beverages in some plastic containers.
• Low zinc levels - particularly post middle age or andropause - frequently go hand in hand with lower
potassium levels, which can be a cause or contributing factor with Erectile Dysfunctions (impotence), and
a host of cardiac, urinary, or hormonal / metabolic health problems, including weight gain. Regular intake of
substances that negatively affect liver functions (Tylenol, marijuana, alcohol, many prescription drugs...), can
lead to the same consequences.
• Extra Zinc and/or Pantothenic Acid (Vit B5) in the 100 -1000 mg range may help resolve the occasional
presence of Blood in semen (hematospermia), if due to a low zinc / high phosphorus ratio.
Chronic bleeding from the Prostate is aggravated by insufficient calcium intake (or a low Ca / Mg ratio),
inadequate flavonoid and Vitamin C intake, a high intake of supplements or spices with blood- thinning
properties such as ginkgo biloba, fish oils, Vitamin E, garlic, turmeric, high oxalic acid sources (see above),
bromelain, alcohol, regular / high consumption of blueberries or juice, cranberry juice, and even heart-healthy
foods such as walnuts and fish. Saw Palmetto, and to a lesser extent, pygeum prolong bleeding time, so they
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