The effects of Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies in micturition and prostate size in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients- A pilot study

Authors: Shao-An Hsieh, Tien-Huang Lin, Jen-Shu Wang, Jian-Jung Chen, Wen-Kuang Hsu, Li-Chih Ying, Zeng-Chin Liang

Journal: Pharmacological Research – Modern Chinese Medicine

Study Design: Open clinical trial

Participants: 62 adult male patients with micturition problems diagnosed according to traditional Chinese medicine and urology standards.

Intervention: Cordyceps militaris capsule (250mg, containing cordycepin 6.0mg, adenosine 0.09mg, and polysaccharides 10mg) twice daily for three months. Patients with underlying diseases received Cordyceps militaris in conjunction with standard treatment.

Outcome Measures:

• Maximum urinary flow rate (Q-max)
• Post-void residual volume (PVR)
• Prostate volume
• International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)
• International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)
• Blood tests for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), and luteinizing hormone (LH)

Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies on micturition, prostate size, and sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The results demonstrated a significant increase in maximum urinary flow, a decrease in prostate volume, and improvements in both micturition symptoms and sexual function after three months of Cordyceps militaris supplementation. These findings suggest that Cordyceps militaris may offer a potential therapeutic approach for alleviating BPH symptoms and improving the quality of life in affected patients.