Valensa International has announced the publication of a new study evaluating the effects of its men's health ingredient, USPlus PRO, on men aged 50 and above.
The clinical trial, published in Food and Nutrition, demonstrated a "three-in-one" benefit profile for men, focusing on urinary performance and sexual health.
More than half of men aged 50 and above experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including frequent urination, incomplete bladder emptying and weak urinary flow.
As men age, these symptoms often worsen and can progress to more distressing issues such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
Despite the large and growing need, current natural solutions and therapeutic options still leave many consumers dissatisfied due to limited effectiveness or concerns about unwanted side effects.
The study
The study positions USPlus PRO as the only clinically proven three-in-one natural ingredient for improving men's urinary performance, bladder control and sexual function — an important credential as the sector places ever-greater weight on scientific backing.
According to Dr Leigh Vinocur, one of the study's authors: "No other natural ingredient has performed well across all three benefit areas in a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial."
The study evaluated the effects of USPlus PRO supplementation versus placebo in men aged 45 to 80 with moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either USPlus PRO, which contains 240 mg of proprietary free fatty acids, or a placebo for 12 weeks.
Notable improvements were observed as early as four weeks, with significant reductions in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and other measures by week 12.
The USPlus PRO group experienced a 50% decrease in weak urinary stream, a 60% reduction in straining, fewer nighttime bathroom trips and double the satisfaction in bladder emptying.
Furthermore, men using USPlus PRO reported considerable improvements in sexual function, including a 3.5 times increase for those aged above 50, compared to the placebo group.
The findings also supported the safety of USPlus PRO.
According to Dr Amanda Rao, Principal Investigator at RDC Clinical, who conducted the study: "The improvements observed in urinary symptoms and sexual function were substantial."
USPlus PRO demonstrated a 6.4-point reduction in IPSS, a statistically significant change compared to placebo.
She added that 80% of participants achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in IPSS, with 90% of those with severe symptoms experiencing clinically significant improvement.
USPlus Pro is a patented Free Fatty Acid extract from Serenoa repens. It works by boosting free fatty acids that regulate the 5AR-2 enzyme, inhibiting testosterone's conversion to DHT.
According to Dr Anurag Pande, Vice President of Science and Commercialisation for Valensa International: "USPlus PRO's clinical outcomes and proven benefits offer brands the opportunity to move beyond just prostate health to a broader men's health territory by providing fast-acting relief and experiential benefits within a month."
USPlus PRO delivered two times greater improvement in performance and three times faster urinary symptom relief than other natural ingredients (cranberry, saw palmetto and added beta-sitosterol).