A groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed that improving gut health may be a powerful ally in managing prostate cancer. Researchers studied 212 men with slowly progressing prostate cancer (average age of 74.5), all of whom were taking a specially formulated phytochemical-rich supplement. This supplement, containing standardized extracts and purified forms of ginger, cranberry, pomegranate, turmeric, broccoli, and green tea, was previously found to help slow the rise of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). In the new trial, half of the participants also received a blend of lactobacillus probiotics, prebiotic inulin, and vitamin D, while the other half received a placebo.

After 16 weeks, men who received only the phytochemical supplement saw their PSA growth rate drop from 19.6% to 6.2%, which was a significant slowdown. However, those who combined the supplement with the probiotic blend experienced an even more dramatic shift, going from a 21.7% PSA rise to a 20% decrease. This 41.7% swing marks a substantial improvement over both their own baseline and the placebo group, indicating that optimizing gut flora can have a marked impact on prostate cancer progression.

Beyond slowing PSA growth, participants taking probiotics and the phytochemical supplement reported better urinary function, measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score, and improved sexual health based on the International Index of Erectile Function. Only around 5% noted mild bloating, but over twice that number reported better gut comfort. Blood testosterone levels remained similar across all groups, suggesting the supplement did not interfere with normal hormone balance.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, available for 180 men, showed that in most cases the disease remained stable and even shrank in 10 participants. Only six men showed clear disease worsening, aligning with higher-than-average PSA increases. These findings suggest that the supplement, especially when paired with probiotic therapy, does not merely mask PSA levels but may help reduce the actual burden of the disease.

As the world’s first double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to examine a gut-health intervention in prostate cancer, this research highlights the importance of the “gut-prostate axis.”

Future follow-up aims to confirm whether these short-term benefits translate into lasting advantages, while giving patients and doctors stronger evidence to support diet-based strategies.