Men’s health needs often go overlooked when it comes to herbal and nutraceutical support, so here is an article dedicated to them!

Saw palmetto is an oily black berry used as dietary supplements. Its constituent parts include fatty acids, sterols (notably beta sitosterol), flavonoids and polysaccharides.

Studies demonstrate its ability to improve symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Additionally, it has been found to reduce hair loss and increase density in men.

1. Prostate Support

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulata), a popular men’s supplement, is widely recognized for enhancing prostate health and relieving urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As part of an herbal regimen designed to lower risk factors associated with prostate cancer and other urologic diseases, saw palmetto is often included as part of an integrative solution plan.

Saw palmetto may work by blocking the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which then can bind with androgen receptors. Furthermore, some believe that saw palmetto may reduce an enzyme that promotes prostate cell growth.

These actions make saw palmetto an excellent prostate support herb and one of the most widely recommended supplements for men as they age, particularly as they enter middle age. It is often combined with other herbs proven effective through clinical trials – including pumpkin seed extract – for comprehensive prostate health support.

Though saw palmetto has gained tremendous popularity, the effects of it remain unclear due to dietary supplement makers not being required to submit evidence proving they are safe or effective before selling their product on the market.

Supplements targeting men may claim that they can help treat BPH or issues with the reproductive system such as androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss). However, any man experiencing any of these conditions should first consult with his physician to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan in place.

Example: A man experiencing urinary symptoms doesn’t necessarily have an enlarged prostate; his prostate could be inflamed and infected – a condition known as prostatitis that needs antibiotic treatment. Self-medication with over-the-counter supplements without first consulting with medical practitioners may only temporarily relieve symptoms, possibly even leading to serious health risks.

Researchers conducted a recent study with 369 men suffering from moderate BPH symptoms who received either a placebo or saw palmetto supplement for 72 weeks. After that time period had elapsed, results indicated that saw palmetto did not significantly decrease urination frequency or improve flow measures but rather it significantly enhanced nocturia symptoms.

2. Urinary Tract Support

Men living with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, or BPH, experience urinary symptoms like frequent or urgent urination and weak stream that can significantly diminish quality of life, impacting sleep patterns. Researchers recently conducted a study and discovered that taking 320 mg per day of saw palmetto extract enriched with beta-sitosterol may provide greater benefits than lower doses or placebo.

Though this study’s findings are encouraging, more research needs to be conducted before drawing definitive conclusions about any herbal supplements you wish to try. Most experts advise speaking to your physician before beginning taking herbal remedies on your own.

Saw palmetto’s natural compounds work in harmony with your body to support prostate or urinary tract health without interfering with medications or health conditions you may already be taking, making it an ideal supplement to try for supporting either of those areas.

Saw palmetto contains fatty acids called sterols that act as inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and that are thought to play an integral part in saw palmetto’s ability to treat urinary problems associated with an enlarged prostate. By blocking this enzyme’s actions, saw palmetto may help ease urological discomfort related to an enlarged prostate.

Saw palmetto products available over-the-counter can help alleviate urological symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, however many medical professionals question its efficacy due to inconsistent and uncontrolled studies.

University of Chicago physicians conducted a recent, six-month, well-controlled study — published in December’s issue of Urology — which provides definitive proof that saw palmetto can provide benefits for an enlarged prostate. It could end years of controversy surrounding this herb.

This study’s authors reviewed multiple original clinical research trials to develop seven consensus statements about the efficacy of saw palmetto for various prostate and urinary tract conditions, such as improving LUTS. Valensa USPlus saw palmetto extract is particularly recommended.

3. Hair Support

Saw palmetto has long been touted for treating an enlarged prostate, BPH, and male pattern baldness; however, no research supports such claims. Many individuals still take it in this capacity however; a few small studies suggest that it could reduce hair loss rates.

Friese notes that this herb’s berries contain phytosterols (including beta sitosterol), flavonoids and fatty acids which may help block testosterone’s conversion to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an important molecule associated with hair thinning and loss in both men and women. Furthermore, DHT may reduce absorption by hair follicles and promote healthier hair growth according to Friese.

Studies conducted in 2008 demonstrated that Serenoa repens extract inhibits 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme responsible for turning testosterone into DHT and delaying male androgenic alopecia while decreasing dandruff in both men and women. By slowing this enzyme’s activity, Serenoa repens could prevent male-patterned hair loss as well as reduce dandruff significantly.

More recently, research suggests that taking supplements containing fatty acid metabolites derived from saw palmetto may have similar results to prescription drug finasteride when it comes to reducing DHT levels and encouraging new hair growth. According to this research, saw palmetto metabolites can bind with receptors for DHT while simultaneously blocking their absorption; hence they may work similarly as finasteride to promote healthy hair growth.

As with other supplements, saw palmetto should only be added to your diet after speaking to your healthcare provider first. Although generally well tolerated, certain medical conditions and medications might interfere with its use; additionally, some individuals may be allergic to its constituent fatty acid components.

Saw palmetto supplements come in the form of capsules, liquid extract and powder forms; you may also find oil-based options designed for direct application to your scalp as a treatment. While oil-based options may cause an itching sensation on those with sensitive skin, USP or ConsumerLab certification ensures the product you’re purchasing contains only high-grade ingredients.

4. Sexual Support

Saw palmetto can support healthy sperm production and protect libido when conventional medication for BPH and LUTS causes adverse side effects; one study of men taking Permixon, an over-the-counter treatment combining saw palmetto with lycopene for these conditions, caused significantly less drops in libido than traditional treatments did.

The prostate gland sits just beneath the bladder, connected by an urethra that transports urine out of the body. The prostate is vitally important to male sexual health because sperm are produced and stored here; as we age, testosterone converts into DHT which may result in decreased production resulting in erectile dysfunction or even lead to its cessation altogether. Many men turn to saw palmetto supplements not only to boost prostate health but also boost their libido.

Traditionaly, saw palmetto was widely used to treat urinary tract problems in both women and men; men suffering from low libido may benefit as it can reduce testosterone breakdown while increasing levels of androgens such as DHT which help support sexual function. A clinical study concluded that taking daily dosage of 320 mg saw palmetto extract helped relieve symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction and loss of libido in two years through use of saw palmetto.

Saw palmetto may also help improve men’s sexual health by helping regulate prolactin, an androgen produced by the hypothalamus and stored in prostate gland prolactin receptors that trigger release of sperm from penis; blocking these receptors with saw palmetto can lower sperm count significantly.

Saw palmetto is generally safe and well tolerated, however before taking it it’s wise to speak to their health care provider in order to assess if it will suit their unique medical history and specific health concerns. Certain herbal products and dietary supplements should be avoided while on other medications like anticoagulants or birth control pills; similarly pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult with a health care professional prior to consuming saw palmetto, since some studies indicate it could have estrogenic-like effects.