In 2018, men’s health screening participation was at an all-time low. According to the New Straits Times, only 4.7 percent of men had health screenings, compared to 5.8 percent of women. The Ministry of Health (MOH) expressed concern and encouraged men to get health screenings. The MOH has even introduced a National Men’s Health Action Plan (2018 to 2023) to highlight the importance of men’s health in an effort to raise awareness.
It’s also worth noting that men in Malaysia have a nearly five-year lower life expectancy than women. This data is influenced by a variety of factors. To understand further on the issue of men’s health from the perspective of a pharmacist, we’ve gotten in touch with Farhanah Binti Tajurudin, Retail Pharmacist (FRP) from Livinghealth Pharmacy, Ecohill Taipan, Semenyih to share her insights.
1Twenty80: What types of supplements should men consider consuming?
Farhana Binti Tajurudin: Men’s nutritional needs change as they age. Key vitamins for men’s general health include Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E. Other important nutrients men need include Calcium, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, and the Omega-3’s EPA and DHA.
1Twenty80: Are there any supplements that can help men have healthier skin?
Farhana: Yes. Studies show that supplements like collagen, vitamin C, and multivitamins may help improve certain aspects of skin appearance like hydration and wrinkles, while probiotics and omega-3s could be helpful for people with skin conditions such as acne, eczema and more.
1Twenty80: Are there any specific kinds of health checks that men should take note of?
Farhana: Yes, below are some common health issues among men and the vital health checks that come with it.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Men between the ages of 65 and 75 years old, who frequently smoked tobacco products should get screened for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The major risk of this aortic bulging is a rupture resulting in severe or fatal internal bleeding.
- Blood Cholesterol
All men aged 35 years old or older should get their blood cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis. Men who use tobacco; are overweight / obese, who had a heart attack before the age of 50, or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a history of heart disease should get their cholesterol checked much earlier, at the age of 20 years old is highly advised. Measures of cholesterol are essential in determining heart disease risk.
- Blood Pressure
Every adult should indeed have their blood pressure checked regularly, and those with other cardiovascular risk factors should check their blood pressure more often. High blood pressure is the biggest risk for heart disease and a significant risk for other serious health conditions.
- Colon Cancer
All men should get screened for colorectal cancer by the age of 50 years old. People with a family history of colorectal cancer should get a colonoscopy even sooner.
- Depression
Men who are depressed may appear to be angry or aggressive instead of sad. Their families, friends, and even their doctors may not always recognise the anger or aggression as depression symptoms. In addition, men are less likely than women to recognise, talk about, and seek treatment for depression. Yet, depression affects a large number of men.
- Diabetes
Men who have high blood pressure or take medication to control their high blood pressure should get screened for high blood sugar. Anyone experiencing symptoms of persistently severe thirst, frequent urination, unexpected weight loss, increased hunger, and tingling in the hands or feet also should get tested for diabetes.
- Hepatitis C Virus
In Malaysia, it is estimated that there were 453,700 people with anti-HCV positivity in 2009. The prevalence rate of people living with HCV infection among those aged 15 – 64 years is 2.5%.
- HIV
All men aged 65 years old or younger, regardless of perceived risks, should get screened for HIV. In 2019, the estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Malaysia is around 87,000.
- Obesity
Using a BMI calculator to determine your body mass index (BMI) is usually a reliable, but not conclusive, indicator of whether you’re at a healthy weight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy, a BMI above 25 is overweight, and a BMI greater than 30 is obese.
- Prostate Cancer
Based on one study done across Malaysia, Prostate cancer is the third most common cancer in Malaysia with a lifetime risk of 1 in 117 men.
1Twenty80: For men who actively work out or exercise, what kind of supplements should they consider taking?
Farhana:
- Creatine It’s one of the top three workout supplements recommended by sports scientists. Creatine is naturally found in your body’s muscles and in your brain. It may help produce energy for high intensity exercises like sprinting, as well as lifting heavy objects. Many athletes use creatine to improve strength and gain muscle.
- Leucine’s function is to repair and build muscles, including in older adults who may need assistance maintaining muscle, and is also one of the top sports supplements recommended by experts.
- Protein offers lots of nutritional benefits, and from a fitness perspective, it’s prized for enhancing muscle growth and the ability to repair and control appetite, according to Harvard Health. Most Americans get plenty of protein from their diet, but athletes who exercise at higher volumes may want to increase their protein intake to maximise the muscle-repair benefits.
- Caffeine may boost your exercise performance. It’s an extremely popular workout aid: According to a review published in December 2020 in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, three out of every four athletes consume caffeine before or during a sports competition.
1Twenty80: Are there any types of supplements that help with prostate and urinary tract support?
Farhana:
- Saw palmetto
Saw palmetto is one of the most common ingredients in prostate health supplements.
Specifically, saw palmetto berries and extracts are used to help treat urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). While the exact mechanism is unknown, it’s thought that saw palmetto’s anti-inflammatory effects likely play a role. - Beta-sitosterol
Based on a study entitled ‘Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia’, the evidence suggests nonglycosidic B-sitosterols improve urinary symptoms and flow measures. - Flower pollen extracts
One pre-clinical study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative role of pollen extract. A meta-analysis revealed that flower pollen extract could significantly improve patients’ quality of life.
Other supplements that are also beneficial for prostate and urinary support are as following:
- Pygeum.
- Nettle root.
- Pumpkin seed oil.
- Vitamin D.
- Zinc.
- Vitamin E.
- Pomegranate extract.
1Twenty80: How about supplements to help with male fertility?
Farhana: These are a few supplements that are commonly recommended to boost fertility among males.
- Antioxidants
For both men and women, antioxidants have been shown to help improve the health of the sperm and egg respectively. Common antioxidants that are found in fertility supplements are green tea, melatonin, ubiquinol, and more. - Acetyl L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is a type of amino acid, which are building blocks of protein within the body. Some studies have shown that taking a carnitine supplement can increase sperm count, motility, and overall rates of conception. - Coenzyme Q-10
Coenzyme Q-10 is an antioxidant that your body naturally produces. It’s responsible for growth and maintenance and can help improve heart health and blood pressure. There’s some indication that taking CoQ10 if you have a deficiency can help improve sperm count, movement, and shape. - Vitamins C and E
Vitamin C may help aid in male fertility, as previous studies have shown that regular intake can help enhance sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. It works by aiding in the protection of the sperm’s DNA from free radical damage. Due to its antioxidant effects, vitamin E may also be able to improve sperm motility and overall fertility in men.
1Twenty80: Is taking just supplements enough for a healthy lifestyle?
Farhana: Definitely supplements intake is not the only way for everyone to keep themselves healthy. Other than taking supplements, exercising and avoiding unhealthy behaviour such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and others could also keep our body fit and healthy.
On the other hand, in some cases, supplement use could even be harmful. A 2015 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that there are an estimated 23,000 emergency department visits every year in the U.S. for adverse events related to the use of dietary supplements, many involving cardiovascular issues from weight-loss or energy products.
1Twenty80: At what age should men start consuming supplements?
Farhana: We can start consuming supplements at a very young age indeed. Supplements help you make up for the deficiencies in your body caused due to many reasons such as poor nutrition, ageing, genetics and lifestyle. However, if you include the right amounts of all food groups in your diet, you could go without supplements (except for Vitamin D and sometimes Vitamin C) until your late 20s.
1Twenty80: What lifestyle changes can men make to improve the quality of their life?
Farhana: Men of all ages can improve their health and quality of life by focusing on these six lifestyle elements: a healthy diet, regular physical activity, brain activities, social activities, regular doctor visits, and avoiding risky behaviour.
In fact, about 70 percent of men’s health problems are preventable. Start taking better care of yourself today and implement one of these elements into your life at a time to create a positive habit.
Source: New Straits Times References:
1. 10 Essential Health Screenings for Men: https://brighamhealthhub.org/10-essential-health-screenings-for-men/
2. National Institute Of Mental Health: Men And Depression: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/menand-depression
3. CPG Management of Chronic Hepatitis C in Adults
4. The Global Aids Monitoring Report 2020 – Malaysia HIV/AIDS Progress Report
5. New England Fertility Institute: https://www.nefertility.com/international-fertility-blog/maximizing-male-fertility
6. New England Fertility Institute: https://www.nefertility.com/international-fertility-blog/maximizing-male-fertility
7. Study entitle ‘ Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia’ : https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10796740/
8. The role of flower pollen extract in managing patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of all published clinical trials : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5401347/
9. National Library of Medicine: Prostate Cancer, Nutrition, and Dietary Supplements (PDQ®)
