Prostate cancer affects the gland that produces seminal fluid. The cause of prostate cancer is not clearly understood but being overweight, eating a fat-rich diet and having a family member who has suffered from prostate cancer, might increase the risk of developing this condition. According to BBC Health, if prostate cancer is caught early enough, treatment can be successful. Your doctor might not offer you treatment immediately if the cancer is progressing slowly. However, in more aggressive cases, surgery might be required to remove the prostate gland; radiotherapy might also be offered. The herb saw palmetto is sometimes used to help treat prostate conditions, although evidence to prove that it is an effective treatment for prostate cancer is lacking. Get medical advice before using it and do not use it in place of medical treatments.
Properties and Potential Benefits
Saw palmetto is a type of palm tree native to the southeastern coast of the United States. It produces fruits that are rich in bioactive compounds including fatty acids and phytosterols, which might help to relieve urinary symptoms associated with prostate conditions. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that it might also inhibit the growth of normal prostate cells, but adds that evidence to prove that it can inhibit the growth of malignant cells is lacking.
Administration
Saw palmetto may be taken as tea, as a liquid tincture or in capsules or tablets. Since it is not a proven prostate cancer treatment, guidance regarding the dose required to help treat this condition is lacking. However, your doctor might be able to advise you as to a suitable dose.
Effectiveness
Clinical evidence to prove that saw palmetto is an effective prostate cancer treatment is lacking. Research findings published in the May 2009 issue of "BJU International" show that saw palmetto might induce prostate cancer cell death, but the study was carried out in a laboratory, not in men with prostate cancer. The results of an animal-based study published in the "International Journal of Oncology" in September 2007 also found that saw palmetto induced prostate cancer cell death, leading the authors to conclude that it might be a useful treatment for prostate cancer patients. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these effects in humans.
Safety Considerations
Mississippi Baptist Health Systems states that saw palmetto is likely non-toxic and adds that clinical trials have identified few or no adverse effects. However, it might cause stomach discomfort. Do not use this herb if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking anticoagulants as it might increase your risk of bleeding. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states that patients should avoid saw palmetto supplements during radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
References
- BBC Health: Prostate Cancer; Dr Rob Hicks; January 2010
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Saw Palmetto
- "BJU International"; Serenoa repens Extract Targets Mitochondria and Activates the Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway in Human Prostate Cancer Cells; A. Baron, et al.; May 2009
- "International Journal of Oncology"; Saw Palmetto Induces Growth Arrest and Apoptosis of Androgen-Dependent Prostate Cancer LNCaP Cells Via Inactivation of STAT 3 and Androgen Receptor Signaling; Y. Yang, et al.; September 2007
- Mississippi Baptist Health Systems: Saw Palmetto
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