Saw palmetto, an herb often used to treat prostate disorders in men by lowering testosterone levels, also has uses for women. Saw palmetto may benefit women with higher-than-normal male hormone levels, including women with polycystic ovary syndrome, commonly called PCOS. Not all women should take this supplement, due to its hormonal side effects. Ask your doctor before taking saw palmetto to treat medical conditions.
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Saw palmetto lowers testosterone by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which helps convert testosterone to dihydroxytestosterone, its more active form in the body. This herb can also reduce tissue uptake of testosterone and dihydroxytestosterone by around 41 percent, according to a study published by researchers from King Khalid University Hospital in Saudi Arabia in the 1988 issue of "Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandanavica." Saw palmetto may also inhibit prolactin release; high levels of prolactin, a hormone released by the pituitary gland, can cause amenorrhea, or lack of menstrual periods in women.
Effects
In women with high levels of testosterone, which occurs in PCOS, taking saw palmetto may decrease testosterone levels. High testosterone levels in women can cause acne, hirsutisim with hair growth on the back, chest, fingers and toes and face, and hair loss on the head. Deepening of the voice, absence of menstrual periods, reduced breast size and enlargement of the clitoris can also occur. Reducing testosterone levels can improve these symptoms in women.
Side Effects
Saw palmetto has relatively few side effects, although stomach discomfort, nausea, bad breath, constipation and diarrhea can occur. Taking saw palmetto with food may help reduce side effects. More serious potential side effects include increased bleeding, which occurred during surgery in one patient. Ask your doctor before taking this supplement if you take blood thinners or if you have surgery scheduled. Liver damage has been reported in people taking this supplement, although it's not clear that saw palmetto caused the disorder.
Caveats
Pregnant and breastfeeding women and women with hormone-dependent tumors such as breast, uterine or ovarian cancer should not take saw palmetto, since it may change hormone levels. Taking saw palmetto could decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills, possibly leading to unplanned pregnancy. Ask your doctor before taking saw palmetto if you fall into any of these categories.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Saw Palmetto; Steven Ehrlich; February 2009
- Medline Plus; Saw Palmetto; December 2010
- MayoClinic.com; Saw Palmetto; April 2011
- "Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandanavica"; The Effect of Permixon on Androgen Receptors; M. el-Sheikh; 1988
- Colorado State University; Prolactin; R. Bowen; March 2002
- Creighton University: Pharmacology of Saw Palmetto
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