A lycopene and olives vegetation water compound improves lower urinary tract symptoms in men with histologically-proven benign prostatic hyperplasia and inflammation

Background and aims. There is evidence for the ability of antioxidants to counteract the effects of inflammation. We aimed to determine whether the administration of a lycopene/olives vegetation water compound might reduce prostatic inflammation and consequent lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with histologically proven prostatic inflammation. Methods. Over a month period, patients having undergone prostate biopsy and having been diagnosed with benign prostate were given lycopene/olives vegetarian water compound (Group A). Data were compared with those of a matched population of patients who did not receive such treatment (Group B). International prostate symptom score, peak flow rate and post-void residual were recorded before and at the end of treatment. Results. The 17 patients in group A and the 17 in group B, had similar age, PSA, prostate volume, peak flow rate and post-void residual, but patients in Group A had lower median international prostate symptoms score than those in group B (7 vs 12; p = 0.012). All patients in group A successfully completed treatment with no side effect. Group B experienced no difference in international prostate symptoms score, peak flow rate and post-void residual whereas group A experienced no difference in peak flow rate, a slight reduction in post-void residual and a decrease in international prostate symptoms score. Most important, reduction in international prostate symptoms score was significantly higher in group A than in group B (-2.0 vs 0, respectively; p = 0.0004). Conclusions. The lycopene/olives vegetation water compound seems to be effective in counteracting lower urinary tract symptoms due to prostatic inflammation.