Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood, and a normal result should be below 4.0 ng/ml. PSA levels above this threshold should be checked because they may indicate prostate cancer, although there are other factors that can increase PSA levels, including enlargement or inflammation of the prostate gland, urinary tract infections, recent ejaculation, taking testosterone supplements, old age, and even riding a bicycle.. PSA levels can be lowered by natural means as well as medical treatment.
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Part 1 of 2: Lower PSA Levels Naturally
Step 1. Avoid foods that trigger an increase in PSA levels
Certain foods appear to negatively affect the prostate gland and increase PSA blood levels. Specifically, a diet rich in dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt) and animal fats (meat, lard, butter) was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, switching to a healthy diet low in saturated fat and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and lower PSA levels.
- Dairy products appear to trigger elevated levels of insulin-like growth factor, which has been associated with high PSA levels and poor prostate health.
- When you eat meat, choose types that are lower in fat such as turkey and chicken. A low-fat diet is also associated with improved overall prostate health and a reduced risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement).
- Frequently replace meat with fish. Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, herring) are rich in omega 3 fats, which have been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer.
- Dark blue/purple berries and grapes, as well as green leafy vegetables, tend to have the highest levels of antioxidants, which prevent the damaging effects of oxidation on tissues, organs and glands (such as the prostate).
Step 2. Eat more tomatoes
Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, which is a carotene (a plant pigment and antioxidant) that protects tissues from stress and aids in better energy utilization. A diet rich in tomatoes and tomato products (such as tomato sauce and paste) is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and contributes to reducing circulating PSA levels in the blood. Lycopene turns out to be more bioavailable, meaning that it is easier for the body to absorb and use when it is in the form of processed products such as tomato paste and tomato puree.
- Several studies indicate that more lycopene can be absorbed when diced tomatoes are cooked in olive oil than those without.
- While the most well-known source of lycopene is tomato-based products, other sources include apricots, guava, and watermelon.
- If you don't like or can't eat tomatoes for some reason, you can still get the PSA-lowering benefits of lycopene by taking a daily 4 mg supplement.
Step 3. Drink pomegranate juice
Natural pomegranate juice contains many healthy compounds, some of which have a positive impact on the prostate gland and keep PSA levels low. For example, the seeds, flesh, and skin of pomegranates contain powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids, phenolics, and anthocyanins. These phytochemicals are believed to block the growth of cancer cells and slow the accumulation of PSA in the blood. Pomegranate juice is also a good source of vitamin C, which can stimulate the immune system and allow the body to repair its tissues-both of which have a positive impact on PSA levels.
- Try drinking a glass of pomegranate juice every day. If real pomegranate juice doesn't taste good to you (too sour), drink a mixed juice containing pomegranate.
- Choose the most natural and genuine pomegranate products. Processing tends to damage the phytochemicals and vitamin C they contain.
- Pomegranate extract is also available in capsule form and can be taken daily as a supplement.
Step 4. Consider taking a Pomi-T supplement
Pomi-T is a commercial dietary supplement that contains powdered pomegranate, broccoli, green tea, and raw turmeric. A 2013 study concluded that Pomi-T can significantly reduce PSA levels in prostate cancer patients. The individual ingredients in Pomi-T are powerful antioxidants and have anticancer properties, but when combined, they form a synergistic effect that enhances their effectiveness. The study involved men with prostate cancer who took supplements for 6 months. They found that Pomi-T was well tolerated and was considered to cause no negative side effects.
- Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable and is high in sulfur-based compounds, which fight cancer and combat oxidative damage in tissues. The benefits of broccoli will be reduced if it is cooked, so eat it raw.
- Green tea contains catechins, which are antioxidants that help kill cancer cells and also lower PSA levels in the blood. If you make a cup of green tea, do not use hot water as this will reduce its antioxidant power.
- Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory that contains curcumin, a component that can lower PSA levels by limiting the spread of prostate cancer cells.
Step 5. Try a PC-SPES supplement
PC-SPES (which means "hope for prostate cancer") is a dietary supplement made from extracts of 8 kinds of Chinese herbs. This supplement has been around for years and is sold in many drugstores. Research in 2000 concluded that PC-SPES can significantly reduce PSA levels in men with advanced prostate disease. Researchers believe that PC-SPES acts like estrogen (the main female hormone) by lowering testosterone levels in men, which shrinks the prostate and reduces PSA levels.
- All of the men in the study who took PC-SPES for two years (nine capsules a day) experienced a decrease in PSA levels by 80% or more, and the decline continued for more than a year after the supplement was discontinued.
- PC-SPES is a blend of Baikal skullcap, chrysanthemum flower, Reishi mushroom, isatis, liquorice root, ginseng root, rabdosia rubescens and saw palmetto berry.
Part 2 of 2: Seeking Medical Help to Lower PSA Levels
Step 1. Talk to your doctor about your PSA test results
The majority of men undergo a PSA blood test because of prostate symptoms, such as deep pelvic pain, discomfort when sitting, difficulty urinating, urinating more frequently, blood in the stool and/or erectile dysfunction. However, there are many conditions that affect the prostate (infection, cancer, benign hypertrophy, seizures) and many other causes that increase PSA levels (as noted above). If so, the results of the PSA test are not necessarily cancer because there is a tendency for the signs to be erroneous. The doctor will consider the results of the PSA test along with a medical history, physical examination of the prostate or the possibility of a biopsy (tissue sample) of the gland before making a diagnosis.
- Previously a PSA test of less than 4 ng/ml was considered healthy and a result greater than 10 ng/ml was considered high risk for prostate cancer. However, it is now being found that men with prostate cancer can have test results below 4 ng/ml and other men with healthy prostates may have test results above 10 ng/ml.
- Ask about alternatives to the PSA test. There are three alternative PSA tests (in addition to the standard) that doctors are now considering: the free PSA percentage test only looks for PSA circulating freely in the blood, not total PSA levels; the PSA velocity test uses results from other PSA tests to determine changes in PSA levels over time; The urine PC3 test looks for a group of genes that are common in at least half of the men with a PSA test showing prostate cancer.
Step 2. Consider taking aspirin
Research in 2008 concluded that aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help lower PSA levels when taken regularly. Researchers don't know exactly how aspirin affects the prostate (not the shrinkage of the gland), but male users who regularly take aspirin can lower their PSA levels on average by nearly 10% compared to men who don't take aspirin or other NSAIDs. However, talk to your doctor about the long-term risks of taking aspirin, such as stomach irritation, ulcers, and decreased ability to clot blood.
- Aspirin users who experienced the greatest impact on PSA levels were men with advanced prostate cancer and nonsmokers.
- Low-dose coated aspirin (often called baby aspirin) is the safest choice for men who want to take it long term (more than a few months).
- Due to the fact that aspirin and other NSAIDs "thin" the blood (so it's less able to clot), the result is also a reduced risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases.
Step 3. Talk to your doctor about other medications that can lower PSA levels
There are a number of other drugs that have the potential to lower PSA levels, although most are meant for conditions and diseases that have nothing to do with the prostate gland. Taking medication for another condition you don't have just to lower PSA levels is not a good idea, especially since PSA levels are difficult to interpret and high PSA levels are not always an indication of prostate disease.
- Medicines for the prostate include 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride) which are used to treat hyperplasia or urinary symptoms. These blockers may lower PSA levels as a secondary benefit, but not in all men who take them.
- Cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor) have also been associated with lower PSA levels, if taken for several years or longer. However, this second benefit does not work if you are also taking calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure.
- Thiazide diuretics are "water pills" used to treat high blood pressure. Long-term use is associated with decreased PSA levels.
Tips
- For men who don't have prostate cancer, it's not clear whether lowering PSA levels will help or be necessary.
- In the vast majority of cases, factors that can lower PSA levels can do so without having an impact on prostate cancer risk. A decreased PSA level does not necessarily mean a decreased risk of prostate cancer.
- A digital rectal exam, ultrasound diagnosis and a tissue sample (biopsy) are more reliable than the PSA test in determining if there is a problem with your prostate.
