Alpha-Blockers (Tamsulosin/Flomax)
Common brand names: Flomax, Rapaflo, Cardura, Minipress, Uroxatral
Three nutrients listed against this medication. The most severe is marked moderate.
At a glance
None of the three is marked well documented. Each row carries its own evidence level.
At a glance
- ZincModerate · Traditionally cited, limited evidence
- MagnesiumMild · Traditionally cited, limited evidence
- Selenium (Prostate Support)Mild · Traditionally cited, limited evidence
Color shows how serious each listed effect is. The label beside it shows how strong the evidence is. The cards below explain each one and show its evidence.
Nutrients it can lower
Mechanism, Zinc is concentrated in prostatic tissue and modulates 5-alpha reductase activity in vitro. Alpha-blockers relieve BPH symptoms without altering that tissue chemistry, but no measured zinc deficiency is caused by the drug, and prostatic zinc content varies with tissue type rather than with treatment.
Common signs, Continued BPH progression despite symptom control, reduced immune function
Leake et al. (Acta Endocrinol, 1984; PMID PubMed ID: the permanent number the US National Library of Medicine gives a published paper. Each one links to that paper's record on PubMed. 6198862): zinc was LOWER in cancerous prostate tissue than in hyperplastic (BPH) tissue, and prostatic epithelium held more than stroma. Prostate zinc content is a tissue characteristic, not depletion caused by alpha-blockers.
Zinc 30–45 mg daily with food is a range in common use, not from a trial cited on this row. The cited paper measured zinc distribution in prostate tissue and is not evidence of an alpha-blocker-caused deficiency.
Mechanism, BPH patients are often elderly men with concurrent cardiovascular conditions and magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency amplifies alpha-blocker-induced orthostatic hypotension risk.
Common signs, Enhanced orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, falls risk in elderly BPH patients
General cardiovascular–magnesium associations do not show alpha-blocker-caused depletion. Speculative.
Magnesium glycinate was used at 200–300 mg daily, starting low given the enhanced hypotension risk.
Mechanism, Alpha-blockers treat BPH symptoms without addressing selenium deficiency associated with prostate pathology. Selenium deficiency is associated with both BPH and prostate cancer risk.
Common signs, Continued BPH progression, elevated prostate cancer risk
The SELECT trial studied selenium supplementation for prostate cancer (and found no benefit); it does not show alpha-blockers deplete selenium.
Selenium (as selenomethionine) was used at 100–200 mcg; this is discussed with the urologist.
For your next appointment
It prints or saves as a single page. Whether to add a supplement for a nutrient this medication may lower is a decision for your prescriber.
Disclosure
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any grade on this page describes the strength of published human trial evidence in the populations studied. It is not a recommendation for any individual and is not medical advice. Starting, stopping or changing any supplement or medication is a decision for your physician.
Grades move when new trials publish. A free monthly email lists every grade EBL moved, with the reason and the trial behind it: the sign-up is on the Evidence Log →