Microbiome Analysis and Personalised Nutrition in Chronic Prostatitis 

What is a Microbiome?

The human body doesn’t just consist of human cells. Single-cell organisms such as bacteria, viruses and archeae in our body are called microbiota, and the genetic materials of these living organisms are called microbiomes. The main functions of microbiota that mainly live in the intestines are as follows:

1. To aid in digestion,
2. To clean the toxins in the intestines,
3. To synthetise certain vitamins, such as vitamins B and K,
4. To assist with androgen (testosterone) production,
5. To support the immune system.

These microbiota are beneficial bacteria in our body. Getting away from natural life and soil, decreased physical activity and incorrect antibiotic use in recent years have decreased microbiota diversity and made our bodies vulnerable to diseases.

Various diseases can occur due to microbiota-related issues. These are autoimmune diseases that the immune system overworks and chronic pain syndromes. Chronic prostatitis is considered chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Therefore, the richness of microbiota has an important role in prostatitis development and control.

Prostate and Microbiome

The prostate is an important male reproductive organ under the bladder and in front of the rectum. This organ can cause problems in the male body. Although prostate-related diseases occur when men are around 50 years old, this might change according to the individual.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis is known as prostate inflammation. The prostate gland becomes inflamed in prostatitis. Individuals often feel pain and discomfort, but there is treatment.

Prostatitis is characterised by various symptoms, and this disease has an important impact on the quality of life. The most typical symptom is pelvic pain, and patients can experience irritation when urinating, sexual dysfunctions, depression or related psychosocial function disorders.

Why does Prostatitis Occur?

Mycoplasmahominis, Trichomonasvaginalis, Candida species, Ureaplasmaurealyticum, Chlamydiatrachomatis, herpessimplex viruses and many other organisms are believed to cause prostate infection. This infection might trigger the disease rather than cause it. Other triggering factors can be trauma history, autoimmune reactions or problems with urination. Prostatitis patients experience localised inflammation or neurologic damage around the pelvic area. Consequently, individuals might experience pelvic-base dysfunction.

What are Prostatitis Symptoms?

• Pain in the pelvis, penis and hip,
• Pain during urination,
• Frequent urination,
• Problems and burning with urination,
• Pain during ejaculation,
• Pain between legs.

Prostatitis Treatment Approach

Although antibiotic treatment is ineffective against prostatitis diseases, 80% of the patients with this disease use 7 times more than individuals without this disease. There are no medications with effective treatment for CO/CPPS patients. The main purpose for the treatment of this disease is to alleviate its symptoms.

Will Prostatitis Turn into Cancer in the Future?

A prostatitis diagnosis does not mean that an individual has or will have cancer. However, it is known that infection and related reactions might trigger certain cancer types.

Although previous infections are accepted as risk factors for prostate cancer, the relationship between prostatitis and prostate cancer has not been proven.

Importance of Gut Microbiome

A microbiome can impact the start and progression of cancer, as well as the treatment. This impact might be due to indirect interactions, such as regulating the immune system, metabolism changes and effects on treatment. The high number of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome will support the healthy functions of the hormones. The increase in harmful bacteria in the intestine and the decrease in beneficial bacteria is called dysbiosis.

Some of the harmful bacteria in the gut cause chronic inflammation, and this is closely related to male reproductive organ health. For example, the gut microbiome content of men with prostatitis symptoms is significantly different than that of individuals without prostatitis. Studies have shown that the gut microbiome’s content is necessary for therapeutic effectiveness and to increase the treatment response in prostate patients. This is a target that can be potentially modulated. In the future, this might help patients to show positive or negative reactions to certain cancer types.

The gut microbiome is unique, just like our fingerprints. A microbiome not only affects gut health but also hormones, reproductive organs and immune systems. Individuals can consume special micro and macro nutrients to modulate a healthy microbiome after a gut microbiome analysis, and a healthy can be achieved for the entire body by regulating gut bacteria.