Effectiveness of Saw Palmetto Extract in Managing Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on November 1st, 2023
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Saw Palmetto has been widely marketed as an herbal remedy for the treatment and prevention of benign prostatic hyperplasia in older males. While its usage is prevalent globally, there has been a lack of scientific research to substantiate its effectiveness. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 had investigated the efficacy of saw palmetto in managing and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia.
This research involved 225 men aged 49 years or older who were diagnosed with moderate to severe benign prostatic hyperplasia based on the criteria established by the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI). Functional assessments revealed that the participants had an average urinary flow rate of 11.5 mL per second and a residual volume of approximately 82.3 mL after voiding. Ultrasound examinations indicated that the average prostate volume was 34.2 mL, with a prostate transitional-zone volume of 12.9 mL. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, with one group receiving a placebo and the other group receiving saw palmetto. The treatment was administered orally twice a day, with each pill containing 160 mg of saw palmetto extract. After 12 months of treatment, the findings showed that saw palmetto contributed to a reduction in the severity of benign prostatic hyperplasia. To be specific, there were no significant differences observed in the maximal urinary flow rate and residual volume after voiding between the two groups.
This research involved 225 men aged 49 years or older who were diagnosed with moderate to severe benign prostatic hyperplasia based on the criteria established by the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI). Functional assessments revealed that the participants had an average urinary flow rate of 11.5 mL per second and a residual volume of approximately 82.3 mL after voiding. Ultrasound examinations indicated that the average prostate volume was 34.2 mL, with a prostate transitional-zone volume of 12.9 mL. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, with one group receiving a placebo and the other group receiving saw palmetto. The treatment was administered orally twice a day, with each pill containing 160 mg of saw palmetto extract. After 12 months of treatment, the findings showed that saw palmetto contributed to a reduction in the severity of benign prostatic hyperplasia. To be specific, there were no significant differences observed in the maximal urinary flow rate and residual volume after voiding between the two groups.