The prostate gland surrounds a man's urethra at the base of the bladder and makes some of the fluid that is part of semen. In older men, the prostate sometimes enlarges in a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Saw palmetto is a traditional herbal remedy containing natural compounds that may help relieve some of the problems caused by BPH. Discuss its use with your doctor to decide if it is a good choice for your situation.
BPH
As a man ages, it is common for his prostate to enlarge, causing difficulty urinating because the enlarged gland puts pressure on the urethra and narrows it. This condition, or BPH, may also cause more frequent urination, especially during the night, and interruption in the stream of urine during urination. Although the exact cause of BPH is not known, it may involve age-related changes in hormone patterns or in sensitivity of prostate cells to hormones.
Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto, or Serenoa repens, is a plant with palm-like leaves that produces dark blue berries with medicinal properties. Practitioners of herbal medicine recommend saw palmetto for urinary problems, including BPH. Saw palmetto contains a group of natural compounds called sterols, fat-soluble chemicals that include beta-sitosterol, campesterol, lupenone and stigmasterol; together, these compounds make up the active component of the herb. The compounds are extracted from the berries as a liposterolic extract, sometimes called Permixon, that may help relieve symptoms of BPH.
Research
A number of clinical trials have been carried out to test the effectiveness of saw palmetto for BPH. In a review of several trials published in "Urology" in 2000, Peter Boyle and colleagues concluded that a liposterolic extract of saw palmetto improved urination rate and suppressed the need to urinate at night in subjects who took the preparation compared to a placebo group. In a long-term trial of saw palmetto extract published in "Advances in Therapy" in 2002, 150 subjects who took the extract for as long as two years also experienced significant improvement in symptoms of BPH.
Recommendations and Precautions
Saw palmetto is available from most health food stores as a lipopsterolic extract in capsules. The recommended dose is 160 mg, twice daily. The supplement is generally considered safe, although it may cause mild stomach upset or headaches in some people. Saw palmetto may interact with some medications, including blood thinners and hormonal medicines. Talk to your doctor about saw palmetto before adding it to your regular regimen.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse: Prostate Enlargement: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Saw Palmetto
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Saw Palmetto
- MayoClinic.com: Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens [Bartram])
- "Urology"; Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials of Permixon in the Treatment of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia; P. Boyle, et al.; April 2000
- "Advances in Therapy"; Long-Term Clinical and Biological Effects of the Liposterolic Extract of Sereona Repens...; Y. Pytel, et al.; November-December 2002
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