Prostatitis patients show food sensitivity similar to IC/BPS

Men struggling with prostatitis should take note of this important study, the first of its kind demonstrating that prostate and pelvic pain patients struggle with more intense symptoms after consuming certain foods and beverages, particularly spicy and carbonated foods.

A total of 95 men with prostatitis completed a survey that assessed their reaction, if any, to 176 foods and beverages. 47.4% reported that their symptoms worsened. The worst offenders were spicy foods, coffee, hot peppers, alcoholic beverages, tea and chili, the foods also found to exacerbate symptoms of interestitial cystitis/ bladder pain syndrome. Of note are the hot spices, such as chili. Caffeinated foods, such as coffees and teas, were found troublesome. Lastly, alcohol was found to be irritating, demonstrating very similar results to a study the ICN conducted several years ago.

Several foods were found to help alleviate symptoms. Docusate, psyllium and polycarbophil, which help maintain bowel function, received high scores. Water, of course, helps dilute urine thus reducing the quantity of irritants. as well as supporting bowel function. Herbal teas (chamomile, peppermint) are known to be more calming and soothing to the urinary tract.

This study comes as no surprise to the interstitial cystitis and fellow chronic pelvic pain community for whom diet modification has been a cornerstone to symptom relief. In fact, the AUA guidelines strongly urge diet modification in Step One of their treatment guidelines for IC/BPS.

We happily share our diet information with the prostatitis community with the assurance that diet modification has been very effective at reducing, if not avoiding, painful flares for many patients. In our experience, the most irritating foods are high acid, caffeinated and more spicy food typically found in junk or fast food. Simple, healthy organic foods, on the other hand, are the staple foods of our diet.

The ICN maintains an IC Food List app that can help men learning about diet. Available from iTunes, it allows patients to sort through several categories of foods to learn which are the “safe”, “try it” or cautionary foods.

Learn more about the IC diet here!

Source: Herati As, et al. Effects of Foods and Beverages on the Symptoms of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. Urology. 2013 Aug 23.

About the Author: Jill Osborne

My Google Profile+ Jill Heidi Osborne is the president and founder of the Interstitial Cystitis Network, a health education company dedicated to interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome and other pelvic pain disorders. As the editor and lead author of the ICN and the IC Optimist magazine, Jill is proud of the academic recognition that her website has achieved. The University of London rated the ICN as the top IC website for accuracy, credibility, readability and quality. (Int Urogynecol J - April 2013). Harvard Medical School rated both Medscape and the ICN as the top two websites dedicated to IC. (Urology - Sept 11). For many years, Jill served on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Panel (US Army) where she collaborated with researchers to evaluate new IC research studies for possible funding. Jill has conducted and/or collaborates on a variety of IC research studies on new therapeutics, pain care, sexuality, the use of medical marijuana, menopause and the cost of treatments, shining a light on issues that influence patient quality of life. An IC support group leader and national spokesperson for the past 20 years, she has represented the IC community on radio, TV shows, at medical conferences. She has written hundreds of articles on IC and its related conditions. Jill has a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacology and a Masters in Psychology, Jill was named Presidential Management Intern (aka Fellowship) while in graduate school. (She was unable to earn her PhD due to the onset of her IC.) She spends the majority of her time providing WELLNESS COACHING for patients in need and developing new, internet based educational and support tools for IC patients, including new live IC Support Group Meetings via Youtube and the “Living with IC” video series. Jill was diagnosed with IC at the age of 32 but first showed symptoms at the age of 12.