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Cranberry fruit powder (Flowens™) improves lower urinary tract symptoms in men: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

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Abstract

Background

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia increase with age. To date, several medications are available to treat LUTS, including herbal remedies which offer less side effects but lack robust efficacy studies.

Methods

This 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed at evaluating the dose effect of 250 or 500 mg cranberry powder (Flowens™) on LUTS and uroflowmetry in men over the age of 45. A total of 124 volunteers with PSA levels <2.5 ng/mL and an international prostate symptoms score (IPSS) score ≥8 were recruited and randomized. The primary outcome measure was the IPSS, evaluated at 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcome measures included quality of life, bladder volume (Vol), maximum urinary flow rate (Q max), average urinary flow rate (Q ave), ultrasound-estimated post-void residual urine volume (PVR), serum prostate-specific antigen, selenium, interleukin 6, and C-reactive protein at 6 months.

Results

After 6 months, subjects in both Flowens™ groups had a lower IPSS (−3.1 and −4.1 in the 250- and 500-mg groups, p = 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively) versus the placebo group (−1.5), and a dose–response effect was observed. There were significant differences in Q max, Q ave, PVR, and Vol in the Flowens™ 500-mg group versus baseline (p < 0.05). A dose-dependent effect on Vol was observed, as well as on PVR, for participants with a nonzero PVR. There was no effect on clinical chemistry or hematology markers.

Conclusions

Flowens™ showed a clinically relevant, dose-dependent, and significant reduction in LUTS in men over 45.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from NATUREX-DBS is gratefully acknowledged. The cranberry powder (Flowens™) was supplied by NATUREX-DBS, SAGAMORE, MA 02561.

Conflict of interest

MR and EF are employed by NATUREX and NATUREX-DBS, respectively.

Ethical standard

Ethics Committee of the University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic (reference 55/12).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University Hospital, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Ales Vidlar, Vladimir Student Jr. & Vladimir Student

  2. Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Jitka Vostalova & Vilím Simanek

  3. NATUREX-DBS, 375 Huyler Street, South Hackensack, NJ, USA

    Emilie Fromentin

  4. NATUREX SA, 250 Rue Pierre Bayle, 84911, Avignon, France

    Marc Roller

Authors
  1. Ales Vidlar
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  2. Vladimir Student Jr.
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  3. Jitka Vostalova
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  4. Emilie Fromentin
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  5. Marc Roller
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  6. Vilím Simanek
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  7. Vladimir Student
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emilie Fromentin.

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Vidlar, A., Student, V., Vostalova, J. et al. Cranberry fruit powder (Flowens™) improves lower urinary tract symptoms in men: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. World J Urol 34, 419–424 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-015-1611-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-015-1611-7

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