Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common age-related disease in men. BPH affects 50% of men over 50 and 90% of men over 80. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer and the second leading cause of death after lung cancer. Men with BPH have increased risk of prostate cancer. Although BPH does not cause prostate cancer, the fact that both diseases are so common in the same age group suggests that both may have the same underlying basic etiology. In the section on caloric restriction I noted that the Okinawans on caloric restriction diet had 14% incidence of prostate cancer compared to American men.
Last May, after 4 months of my rapamycin based treatment, I suddenly realized I no longer had the strong urgency to pass urine in the middle of my 5 mile walk. Surprised, I began searching the internet. I found a 2015 paper by Blagosklonny entitled; "Rapatar a nanoformulation of rapamycin, decreases chemically-induced benign prostate hyperplasia in rats."
In the rat models, BPH was chemically induced in one group of rats by Testosterone and in the other by Prolactin. Prolactin is secreted by Pituitary gland and the prostate has prolactin receptors. While Testosterone levels decrease with age, Prolactin levels go up. Prolactin stimulates mTOR and rapamycin blocks mTOR. Prolactin caused hyperplasia and inflammation of lateral lobes. This action was blocked by rapamycin and normal histology was restored. Lateral lobes are most involved in BPH. Rapamycin also blocked changes caused by Testosterone. This study showed with a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that if you are a rat, rapamycin will prevent BPH.