If you have experienced hair loss, you may have researched natural vitamins or supplements that supposedly work to help prevent it. Saw palmetto, according to Mayoclinic.com, is used in Europe for symptoms of a benign enlarged prostate, and is now being studied for its effect on dihydrotestosterone, a possible component in hair loss. Although some studies appear promising, saw palmetto is not guaranteed to work. Always discuss new supplements with your physician before beginning.
Botanical Information
Saw palmetto comes from the fruit of a plant also known as a dwarf palm. Its botanical name is Serenoa repens, and it grows in warm climates, including the southeastern United States, according to Nativeamericanbotanics.com. The saw palmetto extract you see on the shelves of your health food store is derived from the berries of the plant, olive-shaped fruits that the website says turn blue-black in the fall. Saw palmetto thickets are an important part of southeastern wildlife habitats, as they are home to panther and black bear young, who feed on the berries.
Hair Loss and Androgens
Androgenic alopecia, AGA, is usually called male pattern baldness, although it can occur in females as well, according to an article published in Endocrinology in May 2010. This article documents a study done on mice to discover what causes hair loss. The researchers concluded that high levels of a substance called 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, an androgen, delayed hair growth. They also discovered that blocking androgen receptor sites helped to inhibit the androgen's effects on hair.
Saw Palmetto Extracts
The conversion of the hormone testosterone to dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase is a known factor in AGA, states an article in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in April 2002. The article also discusses the use of saw palmetto in blocking the action of 5 alpha reductase, thereby preventing the formation of dihydrotestosterone and the subsequent hair loss. The researchers found that extracts of saw palmetto were effective in inhibiting hair loss, although further study is recommended.
The journal Advances in Therapy published in July of 2010 the results of a study done in Spain using new extracts of saw palmetto, called SPET-85. The study concluded that SPET-85 was effective in reducing 5 alpha reductase at lower potencies than other saw palmetto extracts. The researchers postulate that SPET-85 is more potent than other extracts, and is more effective. Saw palmetto extracts are not FDA regulated, so be sure to speak to your doctor before using them.
Other Benefits
According to the articles in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Advances in Therapy, besides inhibiting hair loss, saw palmetto can also help with some of the symptoms associated with benign prostate enlargement. Technically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, it, too, is triggered by high amounts of 5 alpha reductase and dihydrotestosterone. These studies have shown saw palmetto to effectively reduce the urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH.
Considerations
While saw palmetto shows promise in preventing hair loss, it is not regulated by the FDA or guaranteed to work for you. Be sure to discuss its use with your doctor, especially with regard to which brand or potency to buy.
References
- Endocrinology; A mouse model of androgenetic alopecia; Crabtree, JS et al; May 2010
- Mayoclinic.com: Saw Palmetto Information
- Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine; A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia; Prager, N et al; April 2002
- Nativeamericanbotanics.com: Saw Palmetto Information
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