Overall, more studies are needed before strong conclusions can be made. It’s possible that the effects vary based on the strength of the individual formulation. On the other hand, two reviews note that a daily dose of 320 mg of Permixon - a specific saw palmetto extract - was more effective than a placebo at improving urine flow and reducing nighttime urination ( 12, 13). However, the latest Cochrane review - the highest standard in evidence-based healthcare - concluded that saw palmetto provides little improvement in LUTS ( 11). Several studies have looked at saw palmetto’s effect on LUTS - with mixed results.Įarly studies reported that saw palmetto may help increase urine flow and reduce nighttime urination in men with BPH - both when used alone or in combination with traditional drug therapy ( 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Unlike BPH, LUTS can affect both men and women ( 4, 5). It can also increase the frequency and urge to urinate, often causing excessive nighttime urination which may disrupt sleep.īPH is part of a larger group of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), a group of symptoms typically involving the bladder, urethra, and prostate. If left untreated, the prostate can enlarge to the point of interfering with the ability to properly empty the bladder. Saw palmetto may help treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - a medical condition characterized by a slow, noncancerous yet abnormal enlargement of the prostate.īPH is common in older men, affecting up to 75% of men in their 70s ( 3). May benefit prostate health and urinary function
The supplements come in various forms, with oily extracts being the most popular. Saw palmetto is a supplement made from the fruit of the saw palmetto tree. They typically provide higher amounts of beneficial plant compounds like vitamin E and other antioxidants compared to the raw fruit ( 2). These supplements contain 75–90% fats depending on the extraction method. Still, the most common form on the market is oily extracts of the fatty portions of the dried berries ( 1). Dried and ground saw palmetto can also be purchased in capsule or tablet form. Nowadays, the berries are eaten whole or dried and used to make tea. The saw palmetto fruit has long been used by Native Americans for its nutritional, diuretic, sedative, aphrodisiac, and cough-reducing properties.
The saw palmetto tree produces dark berries that contain a large seed ( 1). It grows in sandy soil and gets its name from the sharp, saw-like teeth on the stalks that attach the tree’s leaves to its stem. Saw palmetto, or Serenoa repens, is a dwarf palm tree native to the southeast regions of North America and especially abundant in Florida, Georgia, Cuba, and the Bahamas ( 1).
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