Gram Research analysis of a randomized trial run in 2024 found that a multi-ingredient antioxidant supplement may reduce chronic prostatitis symptoms. Among 77 men, 55.3% taking the supplement had at least a 25% symptom score drop, compared with 30.7% on placebo, after three months. The supplement also lowered the inflammation marker IL-8.
Chronic prostatitis, a long-lasting painful inflammation of the prostate gland, is hard to treat, and men often look for options beyond standard care. Gram Research analysis of a randomized trial enrolling men in 2024 found that a multi-ingredient antioxidant supplement, containing tomato, broccoli, milk thistle, and glutathione among other plant-based ingredients, was linked to meaningful symptom relief over three months. In the supplement group, 55.3% of men had their symptom scores drop by at least 25%, compared with 30.7% of men taking a placebo. The supplement group also showed lower levels of IL-8, a chemical messenger that signals inflammation. The study included only 77 men, all in their early thirties, at a single clinic, so the results are promising but preliminary. Researchers have not yet shown which ingredient is responsible, and larger trials are needed before these findings can be considered definitive.
Key Statistics
A 2024 randomized controlled trial of 77 men with chronic prostatitis found that 55.3% of those taking a multi-ingredient antioxidant supplement had at least a 25% drop in symptom scores, compared with 30.7% of men on placebo (p < .0001).
In the same trial, average levels of the inflammation marker IL-8 in the supplement group fell from 856 pg/ml to 298 pg/ml over three months, while the placebo group reached 986 pg/ml at follow-up, compared with 316 pg/ml in the supplement group.
The trial found no statistically significant change in the inflammation markers IL-6 or IL-10 between the supplement and placebo groups over three months.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Researchers asked whether a daily antioxidant dietary supplement could reduce pain and urinary symptoms in men with chronic prostatitis, and whether it lowered inflammation signals in the fluid produced by the prostate.
- Who participated: 77 men, with an average age of about 32, who were diagnosed with chronic prostatitis at one urology center in 2024. Participants were split into two groups: 38 took the supplement and 39 took a placebo pill that looked the same.
- Key finding: After three months, 55.3% of men taking the supplement had a symptom score improvement of at least 25%, compared with 30.7% of men on placebo. The difference was very unlikely to be due to chance (p < .0001). Levels of the inflammation marker IL-8 were also substantially lower in the supplement group.
- What it means for you: If you have chronic prostatitis, this early research suggests a plant-based supplement may be worth discussing with your doctor as an add-on. It is not a replacement for medical care, and the evidence is limited to one small study, so it should not be relied on alone.
The Research Details
This was a randomized controlled trial, which means participants were assigned by chance to either the supplement or a placebo. Neither the men nor the researchers could tell which pill was which in the standard design of this type of study, which helps prevent people’s expectations from shaping the results. Each participant took one capsule a day for three months.
At the start of the study, every man completed a standard questionnaire called the NIH-CPSI, which scores the severity of pain and urinary symptoms. The questionnaire also included a quality-of-life survey called the SF-36. Doctors performed a physical exam and a lab test called the Meares-Stamey test, which checks urine and prostate fluid for infection. Samples of seminal fluid, the fluid that the prostate contributes to semen, were also collected to measure inflammation markers.
The same measurements were repeated after three months. Comparing the start and end points in each group allowed the researchers to see whether symptoms and inflammation changed more in the supplement group than in the placebo group.
Randomized controlled trials are one of the strongest ways to test whether a treatment works, because random assignment makes the two groups similar at the start. Using a placebo allows researchers to separate the real effect of the supplement from the benefit people feel simply from taking a pill and being monitored. Measuring both symptom questionnaires and lab markers of inflammation also helps show how the supplement might be working, not just whether it seems to work.
The use of random assignment and a placebo group are strengths of this design. However, the study enrolled only 77 men at a single clinic, which limits how well the results apply to other populations. The analysis was reported as ‘per-protocol,’ meaning it included only men who followed the study plan, which can make results look better than they would in everyone who started. The supplement also contains several ingredients together, so the study cannot tell which one, if any, caused the effect. The journal’s impact factor was not verified for this analysis, and funding and conflict-of-interest details should be checked in the full paper before drawing firm conclusions.
What the Results Show
The main result was a difference in symptom improvement between the two groups. Among men taking the supplement, 21 of 38 (55.3%) had their NIH-CPSI total score drop by more than 25% from their starting point. In the placebo group, 12 of 39 (30.7%) reached the same level of improvement. The NIH-CPSI is a questionnaire that rates pain, urinary problems, and how much symptoms interfere with daily life, so a 25% drop is a meaningful change for many patients.
The study also looked at IL-8, a signaling protein that the body releases during inflammation. At the three-month follow-up, average IL-8 levels in the supplement group were 316 pg/ml, compared with 986 pg/ml in the placebo group. Within the supplement group alone, IL-8 fell from an average of 856 pg/ml at the start to 298 pg/ml at follow-up. Both differences were statistically strong (p < .0001), meaning they were very unlikely to occur by chance.
The researchers also measured two other inflammation signals, IL-6 and IL-10. Neither showed a statistically significant change between the groups. This suggests the supplement’s effect may be specific to IL-8, although this needs confirmation in larger studies.
The authors concluded that the supplement may improve quality of life by reducing IL-8 levels. This is a reasonable interpretation of the data, but the study was not designed to prove that lower IL-8 directly caused the symptom improvement.
The study tracked quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire, which covers physical health, energy, pain, and emotional well-being. These results help explain whether symptom changes translated into how men felt in daily life. Because the supplement is taken once a day with no reported dramatic side effects in the summary, it may be easier to fit into a routine than some other approaches, though the full paper should be checked for side effect reporting. The fact that IL-8 changed while IL-6 and IL-10 did not is a specific pattern that could guide future research into how the supplement works.
Chronic prostatitis is a condition with many possible causes and no single standard cure, and many treatments have had mixed results. Researchers have long been interested in inflammation as a driver of symptoms, so a supplement that lowers an inflammation signal fits with that line of thinking. Plant-based antioxidants, such as those in tomatoes and broccoli, have been studied for general inflammation, but their use specifically for chronic prostatitis has been limited. This trial adds a relatively rare controlled test in this area, though it does not yet establish the supplement as a standard option.
The study was small, with only 77 men analyzed, and all were relatively young, with an average age in their early thirties. Results may not apply to older men or to people with different symptom patterns. All participants came from one clinic, which may not reflect the wider population. The analysis included only men who followed the study plan, which can make a treatment look more effective than it may be in real-world use. The supplement combines seven ingredients, so it is not possible to tell which ingredient, if any, produced the benefit. The study lasted only three months, so it does not show whether benefits last longer or whether symptoms return after stopping. Finally, the study measured IL-8 in seminal fluid, and it is not yet clear how these lab values relate to everyday pain or to long-term prostate health.
The Bottom Line
Confidence is low to moderate. The randomized design and placebo comparison give this trial more credibility than an uncontrolled study, and the symptom and IL-8 differences were statistically strong. However, the small sample and single site mean the findings should be treated as early evidence. A reasonable step is to discuss the supplement with a urologist as one possible addition to standard care, rather than as a replacement for proven treatments. Anyone with chronic prostatitis should keep their regular medical follow-up, and no one should stop prescribed medication to try a supplement.
Men diagnosed with chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome who want to explore options with their doctor may find this research relevant. People with other conditions, those taking blood thinners or other medications, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and anyone with known allergies to the listed plants should talk with a healthcare provider before taking any supplement. Men without prostate symptoms do not need to act on these findings. Researchers and clinicians may find the IL-8 results worth following in future trials.
In this study, changes in symptom scores and IL-8 levels were measured after three months of daily use, so that is the most realistic timeframe to expect any benefit to show up. Some people may notice changes sooner, but the study did not track early changes. Whether benefits continue beyond three months, or require ongoing use, is not yet known. If there is no meaningful improvement after about three months, it would be sensible to review the plan with a doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an antioxidant supplement help with chronic prostatitis symptoms?
Early research suggests it may. In a 2024 randomized trial of 77 men, 55.3% taking a multi-ingredient antioxidant supplement had at least a 25% symptom improvement, versus 30.7% on placebo, after three months. Researchers say larger studies are needed before it can be recommended.
What is IL-8 and why does it matter for prostate pain?
IL-8 is a signaling protein that the body releases during inflammation. In a recent trial, men taking a supplement had average IL-8 levels of 316 pg/ml at follow-up, compared with 986 pg/ml in the placebo group, suggesting lower inflammation may relate to symptom relief.
How long does it take for a prostatitis supplement to work?
In the trial reviewed by Gram, men took one capsule daily for three months before symptom and inflammation changes were measured. Researchers did not track earlier changes, so it is unknown whether benefits appear sooner. Anyone without improvement after about three months should review the plan with a doctor.
Should I take a supplement instead of seeing a urologist for prostatitis?
No supplement has been proven to replace medical care for chronic prostatitis. This trial included only 77 men at one clinic over three months, so it is best viewed as a possible add-on to standard treatment that you discuss with your urologist first.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Log a daily pain score on a 0 to 10 scale, along with a weekly record of urinary urgency, frequency, and nighttime bathroom trips. Record the date you start the supplement so you can compare your three-month trend to the study’s time frame. Consider completing a standard NIH-CPSI-style questionnaire with your doctor at baseline and again at three months.
- Set a daily reminder to take your supplement at the same time each day, since the study used one capsule every 24 hours. Pair it with an existing habit, such as breakfast, to make consistency easier. Log any missed doses so you can understand how adherence affects your results.
- Plan for a structured review at three months, comparing your symptom logs to your starting baseline. Track quality of life, sleep, and daily activity levels alongside symptoms, since the study also measured these. Share the logs with your urologist at each visit, and flag any new side effects or symptoms that worsen, which would warrant prompt medical attention.
This article summarizes a single small clinical trial of a dietary supplement, not a medical treatment. Dietary supplements are not reviewed by regulators for effectiveness in the same way as prescription drugs. Results may not apply to everyone, and the study had limitations, including its small size and short duration. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or supplement without talking to a qualified healthcare provider, especially if you have chronic prostatitis, take other medications, or have an underlying health condition. If you have fever, blood in your urine, severe pain, or difficulty urinating, seek medical care promptly.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.