Saw palmetto treats prostate  enlargement, hair loss Part 1

Institute of Medicine (US) and National Research Council (US) Committee on the Framework for Evalu­ating the Safety of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements(2005) reports that 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.

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. The saw palmet­to tree produces dark berries that contain a large seed.

The saw palmetto fruit has long been used by Native Americans for its nutritional, diuretic, sedative, aphrodisiac, and cough-reducing properties.

De Monte et al.(2014) study found that saw palmetto contains 75–90 per cent fats depending on the extraction method. They typically provide higher amounts of beneficial plant compounds like vitamin E and other antioxidants compared to raw fruit.

Its active ingredients include fatty acids, plant sterols, and flavonoids.

The berries also contain high molecular weight polysaccharides (sugars), which may reduce inflam­mation and strengthen the immune system — thus adding immune system booster to the list of saw palmetto benefits.

The most important factor about Serenoa repens is that it’s been shown to slow the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, so taking it is a strong step to improve pros­tate health. This enzyme converts the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — a sex steroid and androgen hormone.

DHT is important because it plays a role in male development, it also contributes to many common health issues in men, such as loss of libido, an enlarged prostate, and hair loss. By taking Serenoa repens supplements or using the extract of this beneficial plant, you inhibit the production of this hormone and help avoid these issues that are seen in middle-aged and older males, in­cluding enlargement of the prostate and BPH symptoms.

Saw palmetto berries may also help relieve chronic pain and mi­graines and reserve hair loss, in addi­tion to other saw palmetto benefits.

Today, saw palmetto supplements are some of the most commonly consumed supplements by men with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) thanks to the numerous saw palmetto benefits. In fact, by 2032, over $309 million in saw palmetto supplements is expected to be sold in the U.S., says Persistence Market Research.

In this article, I examine the sci­ence of saw palmetto.

Prostate health and urinary func­tion

Several studies have looked at saw palmetto’s effect on LUTS — with mixed results.

For instance( Wilt et al. 2000; Champault et al. 1984; Bertaccini et al. 2012; Ryu et al. 2015; Morgia et al. 2014) found that saw palmetto could help increase urine flow and reduce nighttime urination in men with BPH — both when used alone or in combination with traditional drug therapy.

Another study by Tacklind et al. (2012) Cochrane review — the highest standard in evidence-based healthcare — concluded that saw palmetto provides little improvement in LUTS.

Two other studies( Novara et al. 2016; Vela-Navarrete et al. 2018) found 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.

Also, another human study by Sut­er et al.(2013) analyzed 82 patients in an eight-week trial. The patients took one capsule of 320 milligrams of saw palmetto extract daily.

At the end of the treatment, the International Prostate Symptom Score was reduced from 14.4 ± 4.7 to 6.9 ± 5.2. Investigators’ and patients’ assessments confirmed the good efficacy, and treatment was very well-tolerated and accepted by the patients.

A recent study by Kwon Y(2019) found that saw palmetto extract had therapeutic potential. However, Saw palmetto products needed to be standardized for consistent efficacy in both the prevention and treatment of BPH.

Healthline notes that the effects may vary based on the strength of the individual formulation.

Reduces risk of prostate cancer

A systematic literature review of 11 studies( Penugonda and Lindshield. 2013) found that saw palmetto supplements as one of the five commonly used forms of alternative medicine by men with prostate cancer.

Serenoa repens supplements work as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors — meaning they slow down the con­version of testosterone to DHT by blocking the enzyme and preventing its formation. According to research, DHT is responsible for prostate enlargement, which may be a cause of prostate cancer.

According to Cancer.org, though the science is still unclear on this matter, studies on two 5-alpha reduc­tase inhibitor prescriptions, Fin­asteride (Proscar) and Dutasteride (Avodart) found that men taking either drug were less likely to de­velop prostate cancer after several years than men getting an inactive placebo. The problem lies in the side effects of these medications — they can cause sexual side effects, such as lowered sexual desire and impotence.

Saw palmetto, on the other hand, can also inhibit DHT and help with urinary problems from BPH, such as trouble urinating and leaking urine — plus it regulates your testosterone levels, helps with libido, and works as a natural remedy for impotence.

For instance, Yang et al.(2007) study found that saw palmetto in­hibits the growth of prostatic cancer cells and may destroy dangerous cells. This study found that saw palmetto induced growth arrest of prostate cancer LNCaP, DU145, and PC3 cells and down-regulated DHT, the hormone that leads to prostate enlargement.

Another interesting note about saw palmetto is the research that has been done to measure its effect on post-surgery recovery time. Prostate surgery (known as transurethral resection of the prostate or TURP) can require a lengthy recovery peri­od, but research shows that taking 320 milligrams of saw palmetto daily for two months before prostate surgery can reduce the time spent in surgery.

It also helps with blood loss, the development of problems during surgery, and the total time spent in the hospital.

Decrease male pattern baldness

Saw palmetto may help prevent androgenic alopecia — a type of hair loss also known as male and female pattern baldness in men and women, respectively.

Some studies( Ustuner ET. 2013; MedlinePlus, 2023) report that saw palmetto works by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen-type hormone believed to cause this form of hair loss.

MedlinePlus, (2023) further asserts that the higher levels of androgen hormones like DHT are thought to shorten the hair growth cycle and lead to the growth of shorter and thinner strands of hair.

BY PROF. RAPHAEL NYARKOTEY OBU