What Does Saw Palmetto Do and What Are the Long-Term Effects?

Saw palmetto is used as a dietary supplement for health conditions. It reduces inflammation, improves prostate health, decreases urinary symptoms, and provides other benefits.

Natural supplements like saw palmetto are popular due to their lack of major side effects. Saw palmetto is being touted as a remedy for hair loss and urinary problems.

Learn more about the health benefits of saw palmetto, as well as potential side effects, precautions, and more.

The saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) tree gets its name from its saw-toothed leaves. It grows in warmer climates with sandy soil.

Saw palmetto is native to the southeastern United States. Its white flowers produce yellow berries that darken as they ripen.

Native Americans used this plant as a food and medicinal ingredient in the early 1900s.

Saw palmetto is mainly used as a dietary supplement for various conditions. Its berries can be eaten whole or used in herbal teas.

How to take saw palmetto

Saw palmetto supplements are available in various forms.

These supplements should contain high amounts of fats (sterols) extracted from the fruits. They are a source of beneficial substances like antioxidants and Vitamin E.

Supplements aren’t recommended for children. Adults should take supplements based on the dosage recommended by their healthcare provider.

Note that the active ingredients in dried saw palmetto fruits aren’t water soluble. Capsules may produce better results.

You’re likely to notice beneficial effects within 8 weeks.

Health benefits of saw palmetto

Potential health benefits of saw palmetto include:

1. Reduced inflammation

Studies have noted that saw palmetto exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce swelling and levels of inflammatory markers in mice.

2. Improved prostate health

Saw palmetto has been found to improve prostate health and protect against conditions like enlarged prostate and prostate cancer.

3. Decreased urinary symptoms

Saw palmetto can improve urinary flow, sexual function, and quality of life in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

4. Enhanced testosterone levels

Saw palmetto regulates testosterone levels and can increase muscle endurance and sperm count.

5. Decreased hair loss

Saw palmetto can block the hormone responsible for hair loss and improve hair density and quality.

QUESTION

Side effects of saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects like constipation, nausea, headache, and dizziness.

Because saw palmetto can impact hormone levels, it’s not recommended in certain situations. It can also increase the risk of bleeding and affect iron absorption.

Be cautious when consuming herbs with medicinal effects and consult your doctor before adding saw palmetto to your health regimen.

Bottom line

Saw palmetto has potential health benefits, but further research is needed. Consult your healthcare provider to determine if it’s a good fit for you.

References:

BMC Urology: "Modern extraction techniques and their impact on the pharmacological profile of Serenoa repens extracts for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms."

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology: "Contraindicated use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in women."

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: "Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia."

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: "Updates on the clinical evidenced herb-warfarin interactions."

Investigative and Clinical Urology: "Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement: A systematic review and meta-analysis."

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (New York, N.Y.): "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia."

Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery: "Serenoa Repens: Does It have Any Role in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia?"

Journal of Medicinal Food: "Standardized Saw Palmetto Extract Directly and Indirectly Affects Testosterone Biosynthesis and Spermatogenesis."

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: "Evaluation of Resettin on serum hormone levels in sedentary males."

LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]: "Saw Palmetto."

Mount Sinai: "Saw palmetto."

National Institutes of Health: "Androgenetic alopecia."

National Journal of Andrology: "Application of saw palmetto fruit extract in the treatment of prostate diseases."

Nature reviews. Urology: "The role of the prostate in male fertility, health and disease."

Phytotherapy Research: "Effect of Serenoa Repens on Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory and Growth Factors in Obese Wistar Rats with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia."

Prostate: "Anti-inflammatory properties of Lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) in a mouse model of prostate hyperplasia."

Research and Reports in Urology: "Determination of the potency of a novel saw palmetto supercritical CO2 extract (SPSE) for 5a-reductase isoform II inhibition using a cell-free in vitro test system."

Skin Appendage Disorders: "Natural Hair Supplement: Friend or Foe? Saw Palmetto, a Systematic Review in Alopecia."

Urologia: "15?years’ survey of safety and efficacy of Serenoa repens extract in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with risk of progression."

Urology: "Efficacy and Safety of Serenoa repens Extract Among Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in China: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial."