Bladder Control—Helping the Overactive Bladder
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This is the most advanced formula for maintaining a healthy bladder control.
Helpful for men and women alike!
It contains:
- Go-Less™, a patented mix of water soluble pumpkin seeds and soy germ, standardized to 40% isoflavones.
- Yarrow for a natural strengthening of the bladder function, anti -spasmodic, analgesic.1,2
- Trace minerals from the gemstone beryl give an energetic boost to the entire uro-genital tract.
- Bioperine™ to improve the absorption of all the ingredients in the formula.
Summary of the effects of the Go Less™ ingredient in this formula:
- Multiple studies, in a major victory for natural substances, have found that the combination of water soluble pumpkin seed extracts and soy can
- reduce incontinent episodes by up to 80%,
- reduce unwanted daytime urination by up to 40% ,
- reduce unwanted nighttime urination by up to 70%.
Millions of women suffer of bladder problems such as:
- Daytime urinary urgency (need to urinate can be so strong that individuals often cannot make it to the toilet in time. This can happen even when there is only a small amount of urine in the bladder
- Stress incontinence ( f.ex. loss of urine when laughing, sneezing, exercising, etc) Stress incontinence in women can also result from childbirth, weight gain, or other conditions that stretch the pelvic floor muscles. Hormone imbalances are also associated with a weakening of the pelvic floor in postmenopausal women
Millions of men suffer of bladder problems too:
- Leakage can occur when the bladder fails to empty properly, due to a blockage or weak bladder muscle contractions. Obstruction is usually related to either enlargement of the prostate or narrowing of the urethra from scar tissue.
Hormonal imbalances are a well-known cause of BPH in aging men.
- Night time urination affects a majority of men over 50.
To maintain the highest level of a healthy functioning bladder use Bladder Control Forte™ every day for at least 12 weeks.
Optimal Dosage:
Bladder Control Forte™ may be taken 1 capsule twice daily or two capsules in the evening. Some studies, however, obtained even better clinical satisfaction when 2 capsules were given twice daily for the first 2 weeks followed by the regular dosing after that. Since our formula contains Bioperine®, an ingredient known to increase the absorption of most nutrients and also the other strengthening herbs and minerals, most people probably will see satisfactory results with the regular dosing from the beginning.
General Background to the Overactive Baldder3
Overactive bladder is a widespread condition, affecting about one in six adults over the age of 40. Overactive bladder is defined as having an urgent need to empty the bladder, more frequent urination during the day and night, and incontinence.4, 5
Urinary incontinence, or the accidental leakage of urine affects 13 million Americans and
occurs twice as often in women than men.6
Although incontinence occurs more often in older individuals, it is not considered a normal part of the aging process.
Having to go to the bathroom frequently or leaking urine can interfere greatly with daily activities and researchers have found that about one-third of individuals with the condition report feeling depressed or stressed.4
In addition, frequent trips to the bathroom at night can decrease sleep quality for both the individual and their partner or caretakers. Drugs that treat overactive bladder and incontinence are available, however, less than half of people affected would consider seeing a doctor about their problem.4 Moreover, synthetic drugs that relax the bladder have a significantly negative effect on the memory and general cognitive abilities of people using these drugs.
Therefore, natural supplements that can improve symptoms of overactive bladder and incontinence have the potential to significantly improve quality of life for individuals affected.
GoLess™ background
This proprietary mix consists of 87.5% water soluble pumpkin seeds and 12.5% standardized soy germ. It has been proven in several studies to affect the overactive bladder control beneficially.
The seeds of the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for urination problems. Go Less™ is a water-soluble pumpkin seed special extract that contains the complete spectrum of polar and semi-polar constituents of the seed. A proprietary “HyperPure” process is used that ensures highly selective removal of the fat-soluble components from the extract. Being virtually fat free, Go Less™ allows for increased stability and solubility and absence of rancidity.
Soy isoflavones are a class of phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, which are suggested to help balance hormone levels in the body. SoyLife is a soy germ isoflavone extract containing a standardized amount of isoflavones, as well as other phytonutrients in soy that are associated with improved health. SoyLife is also the only patent protected soy germ isoflavone ingredient on the market for use in dietary supplements.3
Effects on urination at night
In a study of 39 women aged 52 to 86 years, it was found that Go Less™ decreased the frequency of urination during the day as well as at night (nocturia). Subjects also reported improved sleep satisfaction. The study consisted of a one-week pre-trial observation period followed by six weeks of supplement intake. Subjects recorded the frequency of urination during the day and night and their degree of sleep satisfaction.
Researchers found that the frequency of urination was significantly improved at week 1, followed by continued improvement. The degree of sleep satisfaction was also improved at week 1 with additional improvement at week 2. Urinary incontinence was decreased significantly by week 2 and further at week 4.7
Pollakuria is defined as the condition in which one is awakened to urinate at night. In a study of 45 males over the age of 65 suffering from pollakuria, it was shown that a supplement containing Go Less™ reduced pollakuria and improved sleep satisfaction. The subjects were divided into two groups; one with concurrent use of therapeutic drugs for pollakuria at night (group A) and those without use of drugs for pollakuria (group B). The study consisted of a one-week pre trial observation period, followed by 6 weeks of supplement intake. Subjects recorded the number of times they urinated during the day, night, any adverse symptoms as well as their sleep satisfaction.
The frequency of urination at night started to decrease within the first week of taking the supplement and had decreased by approximately 40% after 6 weeks. Researchers concluded that the frequency of urination at night was significantly reduced compared to before taking the supplement. The supplement was also found to increase sleep satisfaction. More than 86% of subjects also reported that their symptoms improved or significantly improved.8
Effects on stress incontinence
A supplement containing Go Less™ was found to reduce urinary incontinence in women suffering from overactive bladder and stress incontinence. Researchers studied 50 women aged 35 to 84 with overactive bladder and stress urinary incontinence at two different clinics in Japan. The study involved a one week observation period (pre-trial), followed by six weeks of supplement administration. During the test period, patients recorded the frequency of urination during the day and at night. They also recorded the number of incontinence episodes and rated their satisfaction with the treatment.
At the end of the study it was shown that the episodes of incontinence improved significantly. In particular, patients with the largest number of incontinence episodes showed the greatest improvement.9
Go Less ™ in various Studies
Several in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to determine the mechanism of action for how Go Less ™ contributes to bladder health. Results of the experiments suggest that Go Less™ exerts beneficial activity in two ways: one on the hormonal level, resulting in anabolic, muscle strengthening effects; the other on a direct muscle relaxing effect resulting in a decreased urination frequency of the bladder. In vitro experiments have shown that the ingredients in Go Less™ inhibit enzymes involved in hormone metabolism. Human 5-alpha reductase is an enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone to di-hydrotestosterone, DHT. An overproduction of this enzyme is thought to play a role in the development of BPH. Inhibition of 5-alpha reductase may therefore lead to balanced levels of testosterone and DHT. Go Less™ was found to
inhibit 5-alpha reductase in a dose dependent fashion. During menopause, women experience estrogen deficiency, which leads to symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats and increases a woman’s risk of developing osteoporosis and heart disease. In addition, estrogen deficiency has been linked to the reduction of vaginal and periurethral collagen content. Therefore, menopause is associated with urogenital complaints, including stress urinary incontinence and urgency.11
Isoflavones are classified as phytoestrogens. They have a chemical structure similar to human estrogen, which allows isoflavones to attach to estrogen receptors and exert weak estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects. In vitro studies have shown that Go Less™ inhibits aromatase, an enzyme involved in the conversion of testosterone to estradiol. In women, a decrease in this conversion can help maintain healthy testosterone levels, supporting the strengthening of pelvic muscles. Another in vitro study found that Go Less™ binds to androgen receptors. The androgen receptor is a ligand-activated nuclear transcription factor that mediates responses to androgens (testosterone and its metabolite DHT) in a variety of tissues. In addition to being strongly present in male sexual organs, androgen receptors are also present in muscle tissues and female reproductive organs.11
Androgens produce direct anabolic effects on skeletal muscle. Recently it has been observed that
androgens may potentially play an important role in the pelvic-floor and lower urinary track disorders because certain muscles in the urinary tract are sensitive to androgens and contain a large number of androgen receptors.23
Findings of an in vivo experiment in rats suggest that the clinical effects of Go Less™ might also be mediated by an activation of the arginine/ nitric oxide pathway, resulting in an increased production of the muscle relaxing nitric oxide.13
In Summary
In summary, clinical studies in men and women have found a reduction in the frequency of urination at night as well as during the day. Incontinence episodes in women were also shown to decrease and subjective improvement in symptoms of overactive bladder were reported. Greater than 60% of subjects reported improvements within two weeks of taking the supplement and more than 80% had improved after 6 weeks.
Other studies involving various combinations of pumpkin seed extracts have shown:
Placebo-controlled long-term therapy study with pumpkin seed extract in benign prostate hyperplasia have shown improvement in the associated micturition complaints14
In a randomized, double-blind study pumpkin seeds and palm plants (Cucurbita pepo L. and Sabal serrulata), were compared with a placebo in the treatment of symptoms caused by prostatic hyperplasia; 53 patients took part in the study, which was carried out over a 3-month period. Urinary flow, micturition time, residual urine, frequency of micturition and a subjective assessment of the effect of treatment were all significantly improved in the treatment group. No untoward side effects were noted.15
Antimuscarinic agents are the predominant pharmacological treatment for patients with overactive bladder (OAB). These drugs are thought to act primarily through antagonism at muscarinic M3 receptors located at neuromuscular junctions in the human bladder detrusor muscle. Several of these drugs have been shown to be efficacious in ameliorating the symptoms of OAB in older patients, but most currently available agents lack selectivity for the M3 receptor subtype, and interaction with other muscarinic receptor subtypes throughout the body may adversely affect a variety of physiological functions and result in unwanted side effects, including cognitive dysfunction. With the recent availability of antimuscarinic agents that show increased selectivity for M3 receptors relative to other muscarinic subtypes, an invitational expert panel meeting was convened to review not only the mechanisms by which antimuscarinic agents could affect cognitive function, but also the published literature on cognitive adverse events.
A review of the literature shows that the cholinergic system in the central nervous system (CNS) exerts a major influence on cognitive processes, in particular memory via M1 cholinergic receptors. In addition, recent evidence suggests a role for M2 receptors in mediating cognitive function. Thus, cognitive dysfunction (including memory loss) during treatment with nonselective antimuscarinic agents for OAB is of growing concern, particularly in older patients and those with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. Increased blood-brain barrier permeability, which can occur with advanced age and certain comorbidities, may also facilitate CNS access of antimuscarinic agents (regardless of their physiochemical properties) and add to the antimuscarinic burden. On the basis of available evidence, antimuscarinic agents with selectivity for M3 over M1 and M2 receptors, limited CNS penetration, and both may therefore offer a favorable balance of efficacy in treating OAB together with a reduced risk of adverse cognitive events in the older population.16
In an open multicenter study the efficacy and compatibility of pumpkin seed extracts has been tested on patients suffering from compulsive urination, enuresis and pain during micturition. 767 women and 148 men were treated three times a day for a period of 6 weeks. The frequency of micturition during day and night as well as enuresis and pain for a period of micturition could be enormously reduced (p < 0.0001). In 772 cases good or excellent results have been achieved.17
The EPIC study was the first large-scale, multinational, population-based, cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using current (2002) International Continence Society (ICS) definitions, with a focus on LUTS subtypes, overactive bladder (OAB), and urinary incontinence (UI). This study was conducted between April and December 2005 using randomly selected men and women ≥18 yr of age living in Canada, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The results of the EPIC study are fairly consistent with the literature, showing that LUTS are highly prevalent; 64.3% of the 19,165 respondents reported experiencing at least one LUTS. Storage LUTS were considerably more prevalent than were voiding and postmicturition LUTS in both men and women. The prevalence of OAB was comparable in men (10.8%) and women (12.8%) and increased with age in both sexes. Nocturia was the most prevalent symptom in both men (48.6%) and women (54.5%). UI was more prevalent among women (13.1%) than men (5.4%). Among women, stress UI and other UI were the most prevalent types of UI; among men, other UI and urgency UI were most prevalent. Rates of physician-diagnosed depression were significantly higher in respondents with OAB, with or without UI, than in respondents without OAB. Further analyses of EPIC data will be available soon and should yield information about OAB regarding bother and impact on quality of life; risk factors and comorbidities; coping and health care-seeking behaviors; and impact on sexuality, mental health, and work productivity18
The enlargement of prostate (BPH) is accompanied by urge, reduced urinary flow and increased residual urine volume. The etiology is not yet clear, though many results speak for hormonal imbalance. Several herbal drugs have been applied traditionally in the therapy of BPH, i.e., preparations of pumpkin and others. Among the discussed mechanisms, phytosterols are considered as active and have been found in experimental as well as in clinical investigations to interfere with either reduction of testosterone to di-hydrotestosterone, sexual hormone binding globulin, aromatization of testosterone or growth factors like EGF. Additional effects have been documented in experiments speaking for immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory qualities. Furthermore, these findings could explain the clinically demonstrated symptomatic relief or so called release of dynamic component of BPH.19
Strengthening of the bladder function by pumpkin seeds was shown to occur? 20
A combination of pumpkin seeds and other herbs was tested in two clinical studies with over 1600 patients and found effective. 21, 22
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References:
1. Popovic M, Jakovljevic V, Bursac M, Mitic R, Raskovic A, Kaurinovic B. Biochemical investigation of yarrow extracts (achillea millefolium L.). Oxidation Communications. 2002;25(3):469-475.
2. Benedek B, Kopp B. Achillea millefolium L. s.l. revisited: Recent findings confirm the traditional use. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift. 2007;157(13-14):312-314.
3. Go-Less™, Natural Bladder Support for Aging Men and Women, Science Paper, Frutarom Switzerland, 2008
4. Irwin DE, et al. (2006). Impact of overactive bladder symptoms on employment, social interactions and emotional well-being in six European countries. BJU Int. 97(1):96-100.
5. WebMD. Incontinence/Overactive Bladder Guide.http://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/default.htm.Accessed April 15, 2007.
6. Nazarishvili G, Gabunia N, Gagua G. (2007). Prevalence of urinary incontinence in women population.Georgian Med News.143:39-42.
7. Sogabe H and Terado T. (2001). Open Clinical Study of Effects of Pumpkin Seed Extract/ Soybean Germ Extract Mixture containing Processed Food on Nocturia. Jpn J Med Pharm Sci.
Nov;46(5):727-37.
8. Terado T, et al. (2004). Clinical Study of mixed processed foods containing pumpkind seed extract and soybean germ extract on pollikiuria in night in elderly men. Jap J Med Pharmaceut Sci. 52(4): 551-561.
9. Yanagisawa, EI et al. (2003). Study of effectiveness of mixed processed food containing cucurbita pepo seed estract and soybean seed extract on stress urinary incontinence in women.
Japanese Journal of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science 14;3:313-322.
10. Keller ET, et al. (1996) The androgen receptor: a mediator of diverse responses. Front Biosci. 1;1:d59-71.
11. Copas P, et al. (2001). Estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptor expression in levator ani muscle and fascia. J Womens Health Gend Based Med. 10(8): 785-95.
12. Tomaszewski J, et al. (2003) Effect of 17 beta-estradiol and phytoestrogen daidzein on the proliferation of pubocervical fascia and skin fibroblasta derived from women suffering from stress urinary incontinence. Ginekol Pol. 74(10):1410-4.
13. Hata K et al. (2005) Effects of pumpkin seed extract on urinary bladder function in anesthetized rats. Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Science. 54(3): 339-345.
14. Bach D. Placebo-controlled long-term therapy study with pumpkin seed extract in benign prostate hyperplasia associated micturition complaints. Urologe - Ausgabe B. 2000;40(5):437-443.
15. Carbin B-, Larsson B, Lindahl O. Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with phytosterols. British Journal of Urology. 1990;66(6):639-641.
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