Saw palmetto is a health supplement with many popular uses, including treating the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Others uses of saw palmetto include enhancing sexual drive and breast enlargement, but there is little evidence supporting these uses, according to MedlinePlus. Saw palmetto is generally safe and usually causes only mild side effects. As with any health supplement, consult your doctor before taking saw palmetto.
Weight Gain
Although saw palmetto has been reported to cause side effects affecting the gastrointestinal system, weight gain is not commonly reported as a side effect. There have been isolated reports of women gaining weight with increased breast size after taking saw palmetto, but the weight gain was not directly linked to saw palmetto supplements, according to the Nutritional Supplements Health Guide.
Mechanism of Action
Saw palmetto is postulated to act on the body by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which regulates the conversion of testosterone into another form known as dihydrotestosterone, explains an article published in the Summer 2001 issue of the journal "Reviews in Urology." Because testosterone is thought to promote weight gain, the testosterone-inhibiting activity of saw palmetto would not be expected to result in weight gain.
Known Side Effects
The most common side effects of saw palmetto include nausea, vomiting, bad breath and abdominal pain, reports the MayoClinic.com. Diarrhea and may also occur. Rare instances of dizziness, headache, difficulty sleeping, muscle pain, high blood pressure and other more serious side effects have also been reported, but these side effects are not always directly linked to saw palmetto.
Interactions
Due to the possible effect of saw palmetto on hormones such as testosterone and estrogen, saw palmetto may cause interactions with medications containing these hormones, such as some birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Saw palmetto may also have a blood-thinning effect, and may interact with other blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin, aspirin and ibuprofen.
References
- MedlinePlus: Saw Palmetto; December 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Possible Interactions with: Saw Palmetto; Steven D. Ehrlich et al.; May 2007
- MayoClinic.com: Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens [Bartram] Small); August 2011
- NutritionalSupplementsHealthGuide.com: The Potential Side Effects of Palmetto
- "Reviews in Urology"; Saw Palmetto Berry as a Treatment for BPH; Elliot Fagelman and Franklin Lowe; Summer 2001
- Drugs.com: Testosterone
Member Comments