[Saw palmetto fruit extract improves LUTS in type ⅢA prostatitis patients]

To assess the clinical efficacy of the saw palmetto fruit extract (SPFE) in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with type ⅢA prostatitis.

This retrospective study included 54 cases of type ⅢA prostatitis treated in the Outpatient Department of our hospital from January to December 2015. The patients were aged 35.06 ± 5.85 years, with a mean disease course of 3.8 ± 2.1 years, and all received oral medication of SPFE Capsules at the dose of 320 mg qd for 12 weeks. We assessed the therapeutic effects by comparing the NIH-chronic prostatitis symptom indexes (NIH-CPSI), voiding diary, International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS), and results of urodynamic examination before and after treatment.

Compared with the baseline, both NIH-CPSI and IPSS were significantly decreased after medication (27.61 ± 3.76 vs 18.6 ± 5.34, P <0.01; 20.44 ± 4.51 vs 10.96±4.62, P <0.01), and urodynamic examination and voiding diary showed dramatic post-medication improvement in the average urinary flow rate (［8.05±1.42］ vs ［12.05±2.60］ ml/s, P <0.01 ), maximum urinary flow rate (［14.22±1.74］ vs ［21.32±4.51］ ml/s, P <0.01), residual urine volume (［46.15±16.57］ vs ［14.55±10.21］ ml, P <0.01), maximum urethral closure pressure (［76.52±3.53］ vs ［65.32±4.75］ cm H2O, P <0.01), mean urinary volume (［124.63±40.55］ vs ［285.93±58.68］ ml, P <0.01), urination frequency (16.96±4.17 vs 8.96±2.50, P <0.01), and nocturia frequency (8.94±3.23 vs 3.15±1.90, P <0.01). No apparent adverse reactions were observed in any of the patients.

SPFE Capsules can safely and effectively improve LUTS and thus the quality of life of patients with type ⅢA prostatitis.