Flower Pollen for Prostate Health

Flower pollen extract may help improve BPH and chronic prostatitis.

Flower pollen is the substance bees gather from flowers. Flower pollen has recently come into the spotlight for its ability to support prostate health by:

• Improving BPH. Flower pollen appears to alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There are some suggestions it may even reduce prostate size, but this has not been proven in human trials.
• Alleviating prostatitis. Pollen may also be capable of reducing inflammation and relaxing muscles around the prostate, which can help with both BPH and prostatitis.

Overview

Flower pollen is a powdery substance found in the flowers of plants best known for serving as food for bees. Also known as bee pollen, cernilton, and rye grass pollen, flower pollen is used to make an extract sold in prostate health supplements.

Much like saw palmetto, it has become a popular herbal remedy for helping with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis – the two most common prostate concerns.

Research on flower pollen extract, and one particular brand called Cernilton, suggests that it successfully alleviates the urinary symptoms of BPH and helps reduce pain and improve quality of life in people with prostatitis. In addition, there is some evidence that it tackles BPH directly by reducing the size of an enlarged prostate.

How Flower Pollen Might Help With Prostate Health

Researchers believe flower pollen supports prostate health through:

Decreasing inflammation

Prostate inflammation is involved in both BPH and chronic prostatitis, and can lead to swelling, pain, and restriction of urine flow. Flower pollen extract has been shown to decrease inflammation by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8. ¹

Relaxing muscles

Several animal studies have shown that pollen extract seems to relax the muscles of the bladder and urethra, helping improve urine flow and reduce residual urine in the bladder. ²

Influencing androgen metabolism

Early evidence suggests that pollen may also be able to reduce the activity of two enzymes that convert testosterone into other hormones: ³

• 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone implicated in BPH
• aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen (female sex hormone), which is also involved in the development of BPH

This mechanism may explain how flower pollen extract reduces the size of the prostate in BPH.

Flower Pollen Uses & Benefits for Prostate Health

Flower pollen extract is a popular herbal prostate health supplement for relieving the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. These symptoms include:

• Urinating frequently
• Difficulty starting or maintaining urination
• Excess nighttime urination (nocturia)
• Inability to complete empty the bladder
• Pain

These uses of pollen extract are supported by clinical research. A review of multiple studies looking at the effects of Cernilton pollen extract in men with BPH concluded that “The available evidence suggests that Cernilton is well tolerated and modestly improves overall urological symptoms, including nocturia.” ⁴ Moreover, several studies have shown that pollen extract actually reduces the size of the prostate in BPH.

In addition, studies looking at the most common type of prostatitis (chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome) report improvements of pain and quality of life, with a 2017 review concluding that “These studies suggest that the use of flower pollen extract for the management of CP/CPPS patients is beneficial.” ⁵

Read more: Guide to Prostate Supplementation

Research

Human Research

Clinical studies of pollen extract – typically administered in the form of Cernilton (cernitin) – report improvement of the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. In addition, there is some evidence that pollen extract directly reduces prostate size in BPH.

Flower pollen appears to improve chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the efficacy of pollen extract in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). A total of 139 men were given six placebo or pollen extract capsules daily for 12 weeks. Compared to placebo, the pollen group experienced significant improvement in pain, quality of life, and NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index score.

• The researchers concluded that “Compared to placebo, the pollen extract significantly improved total symptoms, pain, and QoL in patients with inflammatory CP/CPPS without severe side-effects.” ⁶

Cernitin pollen extract (378 mg) apears to improve urinary symptoms of BPH and may decrease prostate volume

This study tested the usefulness of cernitin pollen extract for alleviating symptoms of BPH. A total of 79 men were given cernitin tablets (378 mg) daily for over 12 weeks. The treatment improved scores of urinary BPH symptoms, urinary flow rates, residual urine volume (a marker of the ability to completely empty the bladder). In addition, 28 men who took the extract for over a year showed a significant decrease in prostate volume.

• The researchers concluded that “…cernitin pollen extract showed a mild beneficial effect on prostatic volume and urination variables in patients with symptomatic BPH.” ⁷

Cernilton pollen extract appears to alleviate symptoms of BPH

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effectiveness of cernilton for helping with bladder outlet obstruction associated with BPH. A total of 60 men were given placebo or cernilton pollen extract daily for 6 months. In the cernilton group, 69% of the patients improved, compared to only 30% for placebo; in addition, the treatment group had a significant decrease in residual urine.

• The researchers concluded that “…Cernilton has a beneficial effect in BPH and may have a place in the treatment of patients with mild or moderate symptoms of outflow obstruction.” ⁸

Pollen extract Prostat/Poltit appears to improve chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the use of pollen extract Prostat/Poltit in people with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). A total of 60 patients were given the extract or placebo daily for 6 months. Compared to placebo, the treatment group experienced a significant improvement of symptoms and had more patients who were improved or cured.

• The researchers concluded that “Prostat/Poltit is superior to placebo in providing symptomatic relief in men with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.” ⁹

Cernilton pollen extract appears to improve symptoms of BPH and reduce prostate volume

In this study, 89 people with BPH were given Cernilton pollen extract or Tadenan, an extract of of the African cherry tree. In the cernilton group 78% of the patients experienced improvement of symptoms compared to 55% for Tadenan. In particular, they experienced reduction of obstructive and irritative symptoms, improved urinary flow rate, decreased residual urine, and a decrease in prostate volume.

• The researchers concluded that “This study shows that Cernilton is an effective therapy for patients with BPH.” ¹⁰

Dosage for Prostate Health

• Most studies use 378 mg daily doses of Cernilton brand pollen extract
• Standalone flower pollen extract supplements typically supply 126 mg tablet doses taken 3 times daily or 500 mg capsules taken 1-2 times a day
• Multi-ingredient prostate support products typically include 126 mg pollen extract

Available Forms

• Most flower pollen supplements come in the form of an extract that is sometimes standardized to a certain % of phytosterols and alpha-amino acids, and can also be concentrated at a ratio of 4:1 or 20:1.
• Cernilton®/Cernitol® is a brand of pollen extract produced by Swedish company Cernelle that contains an extract called cernitin. It is the most widely used flower pollen extract in human prostate research, and is particularly popular in Japan.
• Graminex® is an American brand of pollen extract that claims to use no solvents during the extraction process.