Albasa da Tafarnuwa. Asalin hoto: Times Of India
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Claim: A Facebook user claimed that onions have great benefits for prostate health.
Verdict: Mostly True. Although clinical studies show promising benefits of onions and garlic in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), these studies have several limitations, which call for more robust studies.
Full Text
Health-related issues are increasingly gaining traction on Facebook, with many people turning to alternative medicine through online platforms. This rise coincides with the growing influence of health influencers on social media — whether or not they are qualified to offer medical advice.
Despite concerted efforts by misinformation researchers and fact-checkers worldwide to promote the sharing of truthful information, the flood of unverified health claims circulating online remains a pressing concern.
Given that health is one of the most critical aspects of human life, all health-related information must be thoroughly verified before being accepted or shared.
On Facebook, Dr Barbara O’Neill recently claimed that onions greatly benefit bladder and prostate health.
The photo posted shows a man placing his hand on his groin, with slices of onion displayed on the other side. The caption reads, “It will make your bladder and prostate look like new! On grandfather’s recipe! See more…”
Attached to the post is a link directing users to an article that explains the purported health benefits of onions to the human body.
When we followed the link, the article explained that onion could boost prostate health in men, especially as it contains quercetin, one of the many bioactive compounds apart from the other vitamins and minerals it contains.
The author of the article further advised that onions be paired with meals such as tomatoes (rich in lycopene), green tea (loaded with antioxidants), and fatty fish (high in omega-3).
Similar claims touting onion as a remedy for prostate cancer can also be seen here, here, and here.
Prostate health explained
The prostate is described as a gland under the bladder and next to the rectum in the body of men and plays an important role in male reproduction. It helps to create fluids in the semen and force semen through the urethra during ejaculation.
The prostate is about the size of a walnut, but as men age, typically after the age of 40, the prostate grows larger than normal, a condition known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). By 60, a man has a 50% chance of symptoms. That number climbs to 90% by the time they’re over 80.
BPH, also referred to as enlarged prostate, however, does not increase a man’s risk of cancer. But it can make it more difficult to pee and ejaculate.
Other conditions that can affect the prostate include prostatitis (inflammation) and prostate cancer.
Is there a connection between prostate cure and onions?
An article in Harvard Health from 2009 reported that onions, in combination with garlic, have promising effects on BPH. The case-control study by an Italian multicenter simply used dietary questionnaires and found that men with BPH typically ate less garlic and fewer servings of onions per week than those without BPH.
However, the study had limitations. It did not include information on the types of onions and garlic consumed, preparation methods, or whether or not other allium vegetables were consumed, nor did it account for changes in diet over time.
A 2020 study on the effective potential of onion extracts on prostate-specific antigen in Wistar Rats reported a significant decrease in prostate-specific antigen, though it noted that other factors, such as lifestyle changes, could also be responsible.
Another study tested the effectiveness of the Red Onion scale on Atypical prostatic hyperplasia in adult castrated Wistar rats. It noted that the administration of ROS extract induced significant and dose-related reduction in both the absolute and relative prostate weight in the APH-induced rats.
It attributed this positive effect to quercetin, which decreased prostatitis symptoms by decreasing prostatic inflammation. The study, however, concluded that the effects are dose-dependent.
Conclusion
While there are clinical studies to show the benefit of onions and garlic in prostate health, it is advised that anyone suffering from prostate enlargement consult their doctor before taking any concoction.
