Saw Palmetto has become a popular go-to option for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, otherwise known as an enlarged prostate. Saw Palmetto is a berry extract that is preferred for naturally treating the condition and has shown positive results. The supplement which comes from a fruit-bearing plant bearing a close resemblance to a palm tree has had its fruits used by native Americans for centuries for food and medicine.
It has also been proven scientifically1 to reduce inflammation the men with enlarged prostate conditions would typically experience. Some studies2 have also shown that when it comes to treatment of prostate cancer, this supplement could play a complementary role. In addition to this, it also has other benefits such as preventing hair loss by regulating testosterone levels.3 This is why we have narrowed down the best Saw Palmetto supplements on the market after intensive research.
This is why we have narrowed down the best Saw Palmetto supplements on the market after intensive research and a strict selection process.
Why Saw Palmetto?
Saw Palmetto supplement offers a number of incredible benefits for the body. Apart from its effectiveness at reducing inflammation in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and serving as a dietary supplement for urinary symptoms that can be linked to the condition, its effects extend to other areas.
It is also used as a dietary supplement for treating chronic pelvic pain, migraine, decreased sex drive, hair loss, and a number of other conditions.4 It is also notable for its effects in prevention of complications that may arise from prostate surgery. In addition, it is deemed to be totally safe for use and has been shown to cause very mild to no side effects.
Saw Palmetto is safe for use. It offers number of benefits: reducing inflammation due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, treating chronic perlvic pain, and prevention of complications due to prostate surgery.
The Latest Research
In order to substantiate claims about the uses and effectiveness of saw palmetto, we consulted scholarly articles that detailed experimental processes involving saw palmetto. The deductions and observations along the way was also very essential to our decision.
For instance, some recent clinical trial involved a 67-year-old man with symptomatic BPH. He was randomly administered SPE (160 mg standardized extract twice daily) or placebo twice everyday. Using outcome measures including the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI), prostate volume and serum prostate-specific antigen. The clinical trial recorded a baseline AUASI score of 20 which improved to 7 after administration of SPE.5
The American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) has administered SPE using Prostate-Specific Antigen tests to a person diagnosed with symptomatic BPH. The trial resulted in an improvement - AUASI score has been reduced from 20 down to 7.
Who Should Take Saw Palmetto Supplement?
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or BPH is regarded as the most common form of an enlarged prostate that affects men. Studies have shown that it affects about 50% of men who are over 60 years old.6 In a recent study involving 82 patients with BPH, the researchers found that there was a noticeable improvement in their conditions on the average.7
It is also worthy to note that Saw Palmetto helps prevent the degradation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. This helps to maintain a hormonal balance, especially in old age. It can also be used by men experiencing hair loss, and a recent study showed that after the participants used a saw palmetto extract lotion and shampoo for about 3 months, 35% noticed an increase in hair density.8
Saw Palmetto supplements helps prevent the degradation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. It also helps maintain hormonal balance in old age. In addition, it can also be used against hair loss.
Are Natural Supplements Actually Effective?
The fact remains that not all natural supplements are safe for consumption. However, the ones that have been approved and standardized can be consumed without worry and they present immense benefits for the body.9 Apart from delivering a measure of some vitamins that are required by the body, they may also be further effective in treating various ailments.
Natural supplements typically contain a significantly high percentage of various constituents such as essential minerals, nutrients and vitamins. For instance, Saw Palmetto has been shown to constitute 70 to 95 percent fatty acids (predominantly lauric, caprylic, and caproic), long-chain alcohols, and sterols (including beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, cycloartenol, lupeol, lupenone, and methylcycloartenol).10
Not all natural supplements are safe for consumption - these should be approved by regulating bodies and standardized for safe consumption. If you pick the right product, it can bring you significant amounts of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins essentials to combat prostate cancer.
How To Take Saw Palmetto?
Saw Palmetto typically comes in the form of a supplement, so it’s easy to add to it to your overall diet during the day. The supplement however, can be consumed in different ways such as in the form of a capsule, tablet or softgel form. It is also typically combined with certain ingredients that are known to improve prostate health such as pumpkin seed extract.11
Rarely, it is presented in the dried, ground, powdered tea or liquid extract form. Most of the research involving saw palmetto usually makes use of dosages of about 320 mg per day, and this dosage is often split into two doses.12 Taking the supplements with food is also advised as it can help to aid digestion of the supplement.
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN SAW PALMETTO
- Magnesium Stearate - Magnesium Stearate is a cheap filler used to ensure that ingredients bind and serves as a lubricant for the supplement to ensure that it doesn’t end up gumming up when it is passing through machines during the manufacturing process. It has no nutritional value and may be toxic to the body
KEY INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR IN SAW PALMETTO
- Saw Palmetto - the supplement in its pure form is one of the most noteworthy ingredients for easing symptoms of an enlarged prostate and for reducing prostate size too. It also helps to increase urine flow and ease up congestion in that region.
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Pygeum - Pygeum is extracted from the African cherry tree’s bark. It is known for helping to ease urinary problems urinary incontinence and excessive urination.
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Boron - Boron binds and inhibits the molecule that is associated with causing an enlarged prostate. It frees up space for the prostate to “get some air,” thereby reducing the pressure on the urethra. This results in easier urination.
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Pumpkin Seed Oil - This ingredient prevents testosterone from metabolizing into DHT in the body. DHT has been linked to an increased prostate size, and studies have shown that a combination of pure saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil can help improve prostate health.13
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Lycopene - Lycopene is a very strong antioxidant and it is known to inhibit the effects that damaging free radicals can wrought in the prostate.
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Cranberry - Cranberry fruit and juice has the ability to inhibit pathogenic E. coli strains and a number of other microbes from binding to the bladder epithelium.
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Stinging Nettle / Nettle Root - Research has shown that this plant has the ability to prevent testosterone from being converted into dihydrotestosterone which is in itself a more powerful version of testosterone.
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Green Tea Leaf - Green Tea Leaf contains a high level of powerful antioxidants. Studies indicate that green tea can prevent the formation/ impede the growth of prostate cancer.
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Reishi Mushroom - When combined with other herbs, this mushroom is used for treating cancer.
Saw Palemetto comes in a form of capsule, tablet, or softgel form. It is advised to take Saw Palmetto supplements with food, 320 mg per day split into two doses.
Our Ranking Methodology
This comprehensive list was created through extensive research and analysis, measuring the full value of each supplement by analyzing key ingredients, safety, efficacy, return policies, and overall expressed customer satisfaction. The research process is designed to present information in a clear, concise, and fact based manner. We also collect research from the latest studies and clinical trials to ensure that our assessment criteria take into account the latest findings.
Best Saw Palmetto Supplements Available in 2023 Reviewed
After extensive research, our team is proud to present the following top list of the best natural saw palmetto supplements on the market today. The research process includes precise scoring for important key ingredients, customer satisfaction, value, return policy, and product history along with the average scores of the overall 20 prostate health supplements accessed in our research. To paint a holistic picture, we've included pros and cons for each of the supplements on our list.