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What is it?
Saw palmetto is an extract taken from the Serenoa repens fruit, which primarily thrives in the southeastern United States.
Saw palmetto's active ingredients include fatty acids, plant sterols, and flavonoids (antioxidants that are found in almost
every plant). The berries also contain high amounts of polysaccharides (sugars), which may reduce inflammation and
strengthen the immune system. Historical use can be traced back to the Mayans who used it as a tonic and to the Seminoles
that used it as a n antiseptic. In the early 1900s, men used the berries to treat urinary tract problems, and even to increase
sperm production and boost libido.
Today, the primary use of saw palmetto is to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the
prostate gland. Saw palmetto extract is a licensed product in several European countries, where they widely use it to treat
symptoms of BPH. A number of studies suggest that the herb is effective for treating frequent urination, trouble starting or
maintaining urination, and needing to urinate during the night. The urethra, the tube that empties urine from the body, runs
through the prostate gland in men; when the prostate gland is enlarged, men may have trouble urinating.
Some studies show that saw palmetto is as effective in treating symptoms as finasteride (Proscar) without side effects such
as loss of libido. Other studies suggest that saw palmetto may actually shrink the size of the prostate gland.
Other Names:
Saw palmetto is also known as serenoa, serenoa repens, cabbage palm, scrub pam, dwarf palm tree, sabal or palmetto.
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Saw Palmetto
How Does it Work?
Saw palmetto extracts reduce the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in prostate tissue. One of the factors that contribute to BPH is overstimulation of the
prostate cells and its conversion into DHT. Stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT occurs by inhibiting an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT is
one of the main contributing factors to BHP because it encourages prostate growth. The prostate of older men has almost four times the amount of DHT than
that of a younger man. Stopping the production of enzyme 5-alpha-reductase reduces some of the symptoms caused by BPH, like trouble urinating and
prostate infections.
Saw palmetto also has the ability to reduce the action of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) on prostate tissue. With regard to prostate cancer in particular, IGF
has been shown to stimulate the growth of prostate cells. A health study at the Department of Pediatrics in Portland, Oregon found a link between high
circulating serum IGF levels and the risk of later developing advanced prostate cancer. Due to these findings, there is a therapeutic advantage of taking saw
palmetto to reduce the risks of prostate cancer.
There has been some evidence that saw palmetto could reduce the risk of prostate cancer by lowering prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA is produced
by the prostate gland and found in semen. It is normal and healthy for men to have a low level of PSA in their blood, but PSA levels increase as a man ages.
As the PSA levels increase, so does a man’s chances of getting prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate. Therefore the use saw of palmetto supplements can
have a beneficial effect on PSA levels and thus reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Saw palmetto extracts reduce the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in prostate tissue. One of the factors that contribute to BPH is overstimulation of the
prostate cells and its conversion into DHT. Stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT occurs by inhibiting an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. DHT is
one of the main contributing factors to BHP because it encourages prostate growth. The prostate of older men has almost four times the amount of DHT than
that of a younger man. Stopping the production of enzyme 5-alpha-reductase reduces some of the symptoms caused by BPH, like trouble urinating and
prostate infections.
Saw palmetto also has the ability to reduce the action of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) on prostate tissue. With regard to prostate cancer in particular, IGF
has been shown to stimulate the growth of prostate cells. A health study at the Department of Pediatrics in Portland, Oregon found a link between high
circulating serum IGF levels and the risk of later developing advanced prostate cancer. Due to these findings, there is a therapeutic advantage of taking saw
palmetto to reduce the risks of prostate cancer.
There has been some evidence that saw palmetto could reduce the risk of prostate cancer by lowering prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. PSA is produced
by the prostate gland and found in semen. It is normal and healthy for men to have a low level of PSA in their blood, but PSA levels increase as a man ages.
As the PSA levels increase, so does a man’s chances of getting prostate cancer or an enlarged prostate. Therefore the use saw of palmetto supplements can
have a beneficial effect on PSA levels and thus reduce the risk of prostate cancer.