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Saw palmetto extract

Dietary supplement

Dietary supplement

Saw palmetto extract is an extract of the fruit of the saw palmetto. It is marketed as a dietary supplement that may help with benign prostatic hyperplasia, but there is no clinical evidence that it is effective for this purpose.

Uses and research

Saw palmetto extract is commonly sold as a dietary supplement intended to improve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—also called prostate gland enlargement—which is a common condition among men as they age.

Saw palmetto extract has been studied in clinical trials as a possible treatment for men with prostate cancer and for men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH. A 2023 review found that saw palmetto extract "provides little to no benefits for men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement."

Folk medicine

Saw palmetto was used in folk medicine to treat coughs or other disorders.

Precautions and contraindications

Children

The use of saw palmetto extract is not recommended in children under 12 years old because it may affect the metabolism of androgen and estrogen hormones.

Pregnancy and lactation

Saw palmetto extract should not be used during pregnancy because it may affect androgen and estrogen metabolism. As there is no rationale for using saw palmetto during pregnancy, it should be avoided when pregnant or while breastfeeding.

PSA test interference

Saw palmetto has been shown to reduce the levels of PSA in the blood, a hormone produced by the prostate and used as a marker by healthcare providers to evaluate the presence of prostate cancer. Taking saw palmetto can artificially reduce the levels of PSA, interfering with test results.

Interactions

Saw palmetto extract has interactions with other medications. When used in combination with an anticoagulant or anti-platelet drug, saw palmetto extract can increase the risk of bleeding by enhancing the anticoagulation or anti-platelet effects. Some examples of anticoagulant and anti-platelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and warfarin.

References

References

  1. (1 May 2020). "Saw palmetto". National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health.
  2. (1 May 2020). "Spotlight on saw palmetto: What the science says". NCCIH Clinical Digest for Health Professionals, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, US National Institutes of Health.
  3. (30 November 2022). "Saw palmetto". Drugs.com.
  4. (2023-06-22). "Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
  5. (2 March 2019). "Benign prostatic hyperplasia". Mayo Clinic.
  6. "Fructus Serenoae Repentis". World Health Organization.
  7. Murugusundram, Sundaram. (2009). "Serenoa Repens: Does It have Any Role in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia?". Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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