Saw palmetto extract ... - THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK

Saw palmetto extract (made from the berries of the saw palmetto plant, Serenoa repens) is widely used by many men to prevent or treat benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia). While it is not known to have any effect on prostate cancer, the use of saw palmetto has long been a topic of discussion in the prostate cancer community.

Data from a new, large, randomized, double-blind clinical trial comparing increasing doses of saw palmetto extract to a placebo in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with enlarged prostates have now (once again) shown that saw palmetto appears to have no discernable benefit over a placebo. This is not the first, recent trial to show such a result, but it is the first randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to show such a result using daily doses of saw palmetto extract of up to three times the customary ?standard? dose of 320 mg/day.

Barry et al. enrolled 369 men into this trial at 11 study sites between June 2008 and October 2010. All patients were aged 45 years or older, had a peak urinary flow rate of ? 4 ml/sec, and had an American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) score between 8 and 24. The patients were all given one daily dose of a specific brand of saw palmetto extract (Prosta Urgenin Uno capsules) for weeks 1 through 23, then two daily doses for weeks 24 through 47, and three daily doses for weeks 48 through 71.

Study findings were as follows:

• In the group of men randomized to receive saw palmetto extract
• The mean AUASI score at baseline was 14.42.
• The mean AUASI score at 72 weeks was 12.22.
• The decrease in the mean AUASSI score was ?2.20 points.
• In the group of men randomized to receive a placebo
  • The mean AUASI score at baseline was 14.69.
  • The mean AUASI score at 72 weeks was 11.70.
  • The decrease in the mean AUASSI score was ?2.99 points.
• There was no observable, favorable effect of saw palmetto extract on any secondary outcomes (including measures of urinary bother, nocturia, peak uroflow, post-void residual volume, PSA level, participants? global assessments, sexual function, continence, sleep quality, and prostatitis symptoms).
• There were no adverse effects attributable to saw palmetto extract.

So there is good news and there is bad news. The good news is that using saw palmetto extract seems to have no significant adverse effects. The bad news is that taking the extract in the hope that it affects prostate size or symptoms of prostate enlargement appears to be a waste of time and money.

There is extensive discussion of the results of this study on other sites, including MedPage Today, the Los Angeles Time Booster Shots blog, Medscape, and Reuters.

In an interview mentioned on the MedPage Today web site, Dr. Aaron Katz, of the Center for Holistic Urology at Columbia University in New York City, apparently said that, in his opinion, what this study shows is that ?this particular saw palmetto extract is not helpful when given alone.? In his practice, saw palmetto is consistently used in combination with other plant extracts (e.g., those from stinging nettles or the bark of Pygeum africanum). He feels that saw palmetto extract in conjunction with such other extracts can be helpful for some men with mild lower urinary tract symptoms ? particularly those ?men with BPH who wish to avoid [prescription] medications.?

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Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Prevention Tagged: | benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH, extract, saw palmetto

Source: http://prostatecancerinfolink.net/2011/09/28/saw-palmetto-extract-does-not-shrink-prostate-size-redux/

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