How does alcohol affect an enlarged prostate?

Is alcohol bad for an enlarged prostate?

An enlarged prostate is an extremely common condition amongst men over the age of 50, with symptoms including frequent urination and poor urine flow. For those with the condition, alcohol can have a number of effects. 

A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology concluded that moderate alcohol consumption actually benefited BPH symptoms. It must be noted, however, that, when participants consumed a large amount of alcohol, the condition actually worsened.¹ Researchers also concluded that any benefits of drinking alcohol for an enlarged prostate may be outweighed by the negative effect it has on urinary symptoms. 

So, I wouldn’t go reaching for the beer to ease your symptoms just yet…

1 - Alcohol is inflammatory

As men get older the prostate gland, which sits near the bladder, tends to get bigger. This is known as an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperlasia (BPH), and can contribute to symptoms such as frequent urination and poor urine flow. 

Alcohol is inflammatory in its effects, which means that it worsens the inflammation that is already present in the prostate cells, thus blocking the flow of urine further. 

2 - Alcohol affects our muscles

If you’ve ever had a few too many drinks on a night out you’ll appreciate that the muscles don’t always work so accurately with alcohol in the system. This doesn’t just apply to the arms and legs, though, and instead it can affect the efficiency of the muscles in the bladder too.   

In order to store urine, the muscles in the bladder must relax; they then contract in order to release urine. The introduction of alcohol, however, makes it difficult for the muscles in the bladder to relax thus exacerbating symptoms of an enlarged prostate such as frequent urination. 

In contrast, on some occasions alcohol causes the muscles in the neck of the bladder to tighten and as such it becomes more difficult to urinate. Poor urine flow is a common enlarged prostate symptom and from this we can see how alcohol can make the situation worse. 

3 - Alcohol dehydrates

Drinking lots of alcohol like beer and wine tends to displace any water you may otherwise have been drinking. This reduces the ‘prompt’ for the kidneys to release fluid and, in turn, it can make it more difficu.lt to urinate

4 - Alcohol drains our magnesium stores

Alcohol also drains our magnesium stores which impacts negatively on kidney function, on muscle function and on the way nerve messages are delivered. All of these things affect our urinary habits, making it either more difficult to pee, or easier. The latter can worsen enlarged prostate symptoms such as the need to use the toilet at night.

5 – Alcohol increases the urge to urinate

Alcohol is a diuretic meaning it raises the amount of urine that enters the bladder and increases the urge to urinate. There is also the issue that alcohol acts as an irritant to the bladder thus making urinary symptoms worse still.  

Can alcohol increase the risk of developing an enlarged prostate?

There are a few things that put men at risk of developing an enlarged prostate. The condition is most common amongst men over the age of 50 so age has a big part to play. Hormone levels also fluctuate as we get older (yes, it isn’t just women this happens to!) and this may also contribute to the problem. In addition, lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise and smoking may also increase the likelihood of developing an enlarged prostate.²  

A number of studies have investigated the effects of alcohol on an enlarged prostate. Whilst there is a clear link between alcohol and worsening enlarged prostate symptoms, the evidence is less clear cut in regards to whether or not alcohol actually increases, or decreases, your risk of developing the condition. 

Some studies, such as a 2009 one published in the Journal of Urology, suggest that alcohol actually decreases the risk of developing BPH.³ Despite this though, the research does admit that alcohol will not help urinary symptoms once the condition has developed, plus the work concludes that more research is still needed on the topic. As such, we can’t rely on this kind of evidence to suggest that alcohol does indeed increase the likelihood of developing BPH.

In general, stick to the recommended alcohol intake. Adults are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week (that’s around 6 pints of beer or 6 glasses of wine) and it is best to spread this intake out evenly over the course of a week.⁴ If you are wondering how to reduce your alcohol intake, you can find helpful resources from the NHS here. 

My Top Tip: Take Prostasan once a day with food. Make sure your diagnosis is confirmed by your doctor first though, to rule out any other cause for your symptoms. "I have been taking A.Vogel Prostasan capsules for many years now and find they do make a difference. I have regular prostate checks and mine is not enlarged."   Read what other men are saying about Prostasan.

What can I drink for an enlarged prostate?

There are a number of drinks that are beneficial for the prostate gland when it is enlarged. Green tea can be helpful as it may reduce inflammation, plus it has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties to keep infections at bay. These are more common amongst men who cannot empty their bladder properly because of an enlarged prostate. 

Although green tea does contain caffeine, which is known to be problematic for sufferers of an enlarged prostate, the quantities are very small. Also, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature of green tea outweigh any negatives.

Drinking plenty of water is also super important as it reduces the concentration of urine in the bladder thus easing irritation in the area. I’d recommend increasing your intake gradually though, to avoid any adverse effects like more frequent urination. 

So, what are the key points you should take away from this?

• Alcohol can worsen enlarged prostate symptoms in a number of ways and for a number of different reasons too
• Age, hormones, activity levels and smoking are more likely influence the development of an enlarged prostate than alcohol is
• Stick to the guidelines regarding alcohol consumption – that 16 units a week
• If you need help reducing your alcohol intake then visit your GP or take a look a look at online resources provided by the NHS and Drink Aware
• Plain, still water and green tea can be beneficial for an enlarged prostate. 

References

¹ https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/149/2/106/141888  

² https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information/further-help/enlarged-prostate  

³ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022534709015122 

⁴ https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/latest-uk-alcohol-unit-guidance/