Saw Palmetto
One of these is the extract of the
plant Serenoa repens or Serenoa serrulata. It is also
called the American dwarf palm tree or saw palmetto (Permixon). In
several experiments, saw palmetto was found to reduce inflammation of the prostate
and improve the symptoms of prostate enlargement. Saw palmetto reduces the number
of times the sufferer has to get up to pass urine during the night.
A German study of over 2,000 older men
found that saw palmetto stimulates the emptying of the bladder and
increases a general feeling of well-being.
One of the ways saw palmetto works has
only recently been clarified. It blocks the enzyme called 5a-reductase,
which helps convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.
Dihydrotestosterone is a molecule which binds to prostate cells, causing
them to grow and resulting in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or eventually
cancer of the prostate. So, by blocking the enzyme, this conversion
doesn't take place and the prostate cells are not stimulated to grow
dangerously out of control. This implies that saw palmetto takes times
to work (30-45 days) and needs to be taken for long periods to maintain
the blockage of the enzyme. If saw palmetto is stopped, then
theoretically the reaction will be free to go ahead.
The side effects, stomach upset or
indigestion, are rare. The recommended dose is 160mg twice a day and
this is suitable for mild to moderate cases of Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia.
Some trials comparing saw palmetto with
the prescription drug Proscar found that apart from causing more side
effects, Proscar was 20% less efficient than saw palmetto in improving
the symptoms. Other trials found the two treatments to be equal. Yet
others found no benefits for saw palmetto. These are early results and
more trials are needed for confirmation. If you are taking any
medication for prostate problems, don't change it without a doctor's
advice.
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