A new connection between the gut microbiota and prostate inflammation in aging men

Recent studies indicate that inflammation is one of the causes of the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Inflammation may result from past infections, metabolic disorders, but also from the state of functioning of the intestinal microbiota.

In this new study, researchers aimed to assess whether the diagnostic lipid parameters for metabolic syndrome and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are related to the immunoexpression of interleukins in prostate tissue with benign hyperplasia. The study involved 103 men with BPH, who were divided into two groups depending on the presence of MetS.

"We analyzed tissue immunoexpression of two proinflammatory interleukins: IL-6, which is known to be involved in the development of BPH, and IL-18, which has not been analyzed so far," the researchers write.

The results of their study indicated that men with BPH + MetS in the stroma of the prostate have a significantly higher overall percentage of IL-6+ cells compared to men without MetS (p = 0.034). The analysis of IL-18 immunoexpression in prostate tissue indicated that in men with BPH + MetS, the glandular part of the prostate had a significantly higher percentage of cells with strong IL-18 expression (p = 0.040). They also noticed a relationship between tissue expression of IL-6 and IL-18 and lipid parameters (TG and HDL).

"We conclude that lipid disorders occurring in men with BPH increase inflammation in the prostate gland. Moreover, it has also been demonstrated for the first time that indirectly, through SCFAs, the gut microbiota can act to prevent or create an inflammatory microenvironment in the prostate gland," the researchers add.

This brief write up does a poor job of delivering useful results. In reading the paper, men with prostate enlargement (BPH), with or without Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) had somewhat different issues and some things they shared in common.

In sum, those who don’t have an enlarged prostate have higher HDL, lower triglycerides, and appear to have fairly more short chain fatty acids, which we get from gut bacteria eating various forms of soluble fiber.

From the study:

“Acetate, like propionate and butyrate, has a proven anti-inflammatory effect. In the study by Tedelind et al. [65] it was confirmed that this acid has the properties of inhibiting the secretion of TNFα and IL-6 and reduces the activity of NFκB from tissue culture, and thus may inhibit the ongoing inflammatory process. The results of this study may indicate that in the data obtained by us, acetic acid also has a similar effect in the prostate tissue collected from patients with BPH and with MetS.”

Also, this:

“It has also been demonstrated for the first time that, indirectly, through SCFAs, the gut microbiota can act to prevent or create an inflammatory microenvironment in the prostate gland. Therefore, it seems important to prevent local inflammation in patients, i.a., by inhibiting IL-6 or IL-18. In addition, in patients with BPH and aging men who may develop prostate diseases, attention should be paid to the state of the composition and functioning of the intestinal microbiota, which may directly, but also indirectly, affect the immunological processes taking place in the prostate gland. Intestinal microbiota affects the entire immune system, and thus individual tissues and organs. Creating a properly functioning intestinal microenvironment can significantly reduce the overall inflammation, which also affects the prostate.”

Those have psyllium and oat fiber, which are two helpful soluble fiber forms.

Consider adding sources that have a blend of other fibers.

Sola Bread has resistant wheat starch, oat fiber, citrus fiber, flaxseed fiber, and a vegetable fiber blend that further includes pea, potato, bamboo shoot and guar gum fiber.

Catalina Crunch is a crunchy snack that has potato, corn, inulin, and guar gum fiber sources.

It is helpful to get a variety of soluble fiber sources, because different gut bacteria can create more useful substances. It is also possible we don't have gut bacteria another has, so one form of fiber may not get utilized well, or you actually needed a different fiber, instead.

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