I have been purchasing and using thousands of dollars worth of vitamins and supplements every year from the Life Extension Foundation (LEF) in Florida. They have been in existence for over 40 years and are a very reputable company. You can see their history and credentials at their web site:
www.lef.org
I do not have any financial or other connection with this company and do not receive any compensation for referring people to them. I am just a very satisfied customer. I receive many differnt health related newsletters and listen to health-related nationally syndicated radio talk shows on a regular basis (e.g. Dr. Ronald Hoffman, Dr. Ash, Dr. Vagnini, the Willner Window). They are very reputable companies/doctors based mainly in New York City, near where I live. The information provided by the Life Extension Foundation is in tune with what these doctors discuss and recommend.
My husband, brother-in-law, and many of our male friends and co-workers (age 45 to 88) have used LEF prostate formula for years and not one of them has had any prostate health issues to date. The price of the LEF products is the same or lower than most similar products sold in health food stores and major chains such as The Vitamin Shoppe and GNC. I trust the quality and purity of the LEF products completely. They do a great of research and update their products often based upon new findings from around the world. In Europe, where most countries have socialized medicine, large amounts of money are spent on research about prescrition medicines and natural alternatives.
Here's info from their web site and member handbook:
"The prostate gland is located just below the urinary bladder. The base or top of the prostate is intimately connected to the urinary bladder sphincter, or valve. The urethra, or channel for voiding of urine, passes through the center of the prostate. The apex or lower end of the prostate is connected to the penis.
The prostate of a baby boy is about the size of a pea. By age 21-30, the normal male will have a prostate gland that weighs 20 plus or minus 6 grams, which remains constant unless benign prostatic hypertrophy begins.1 Nearly 60% of men between the ages of 40 and 59 already suffer from an enlarging prostate, and at 80 years of age, approximately 80% of men will have an enlarged prostate gland.
A huge percentage of men over age 50 suffer from prostate-induced discomforts. The Ultra Natural Prostate Formula contains the most scientifically substantiated nutrients to help protect the prostate gland and maintain its healthy function.*
Recently added to the formulas are standardized lignans from flax and the Norway spruce trees. These lignans convert to enterolactones in the intestine that are then absorbed into the bloodstream where they provide significant biological effects. Enterolactones have demonstrated anti-estrogen and anti-DHT effects that are of particular importance for the aging prostate gland.
The eight other active ingredients in Ultra Natural Prostate Formula are:
5-LOXIN® boswellia extract. Published studies show that normal aging and poor diet cause levels of a dangerous enzyme (5-lipoxygenase) to increase, which can affect prostate cells. 5-LOXIN® is a patented extract from the boswellia plant that has been shown to suppress 5-lipoxygenase and other pro-inflammatory factors.
Nettle root extract (Urtica dioica). In aging men, too much testosterone is converted to estrogen. Prostate cells are sensitive to estrogen’s growth stimulatory effects. Nettle rood helps protect prostate cells against the excess estrogen levels.
Saw palmetto extract. A number of normal biological events in aging men affect prostate function and structure. Saw palmetto has been shown to interfere with DHT activity in the prostate, inhibit the alpha-adrenergic receptor inhibitor (to support normal urinary flow) and help control inflammatory actions in the prostate gland.
Pygeum. Normal aging results in levels of certain prostaglandins increasing in the prostate gland. Pygeum africanum extract helps suppress these prostaglandins, keeping the prostate gland placid and promoting prostate comfort.
Beta-sitosterol. The most biologically active constituent of pygeum is beta-sitosterol. It is more cost effective to obtain beta-sitosterol from other plant sources for inclusion in a prostate support formula.
Cernitin®. This European pollen extract has been shown to relax smooth muscle tone of the urethra, counteract DHT, and help regulate inflammatory reactions.
Boron. This mineral helps protect bones, and has been shown to slow elevation of PSA, most probably by protecting against protein-degrading enzymes in the prostate gland.
Lycopene. This carotenoid most commonly associated with tomato sauce helps maintain healthy DNA gene function in prostate cells.
Here's what their current prostate formula contains:
Ultra Natural Prostate with 5-Loxin® and Standardized Lignans
60 softgels
Serving Size 2 softgels
Servings Per Container 30 (about $28. for a one month supply)
Take two softgels daily divided between morning and evening, with or without food, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner.
Amount Per Serving
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) (berries) CO2 extract 320 mg
[std to 85%-95% free fatty acids and sterols (272 mg)]
Cernitin® Flower Pollen extract (Secale cereale L.) 252 mg
5-Loxin® (Boswellia serrata) extract (gum resin) [std. to 70 mg
Acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid (AKBA) minimum 30% (21 mg)]
Stinging nettle extract (Urtica dioica) (root) 240 mg
Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) extract (bark) 100 mg
[std. to 11.7% sterols as beta-sitosterol (11.7 mg)]
Lycopene (from tomato extract) 10 mg
Phytosterol Complex [std. to 59% free total sterols 678 mg
(400 mg) and 26.6% free beta-sitosterol (180 mg)]
Proprietary Enterolactone Precursors Blend
20.15 mg contains
HMRlignan™ Norway spruce (Picea abies)
lignan extract (knot wood) [std. to 90% Hydroxymatairesinol potassium acetate complex];
ActiFlax™ Flax Lignan (Linum Usitatissimum L.) extract (seed) [std. to 40% Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside]
Boron (from boron citrate, glycinate, and aspartate)
3 mg
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extract
800 mcg
Other ingredients: gelatin, glycerine, pumpkin seed oil, water, lecithin, beeswax.
Contains soybeans. This product contains NO milk, egg, fish, peanuts, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, yeast, gluten, corn, or rice. Contains NO artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives.
5-Loxin® is a registered trademark of P.L. Thomas & Co., Inc. U.S. patents pending.
ActiFlax™ is a trademark of Pharma Science Nutrients, Inc., all rights reserved
HMRlignan™ is a trademark used under sublicense from Linnea S.A.
Warnings
All Contents Copyright © 1995-2008 Life Extension Foundation All rights reserved.
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. You should not stop taking any medication without first consulting your physician.
