Stroke Risk: Safe To Take Saw Palmetto?

Saw palmetto is a supplement made from the fruit of the Serenoa repens tree, a dwarf palm tree native to the southeast regions of North America. It has been used in alternative medicine to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, such as increased night-time urination or decreased urinary flow, as well as to prevent complications from prostate surgery. It is also used to treat male-pattern baldness, chronic pelvic pain, prostate swelling, bladder problems, prostate cancer, and other conditions. However, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support many of its purported benefits.

Saw palmetto may slow blood clotting and cause excessive bleeding during and after surgery. It may also interact with medications that slow blood clotting, such as anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, as well as with birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Therefore, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before taking saw palmetto, especially for those with underlying health conditions or those taking certain medications.

Saw palmetto may help treat enlarged prostate and improve urinary function

Saw palmetto, also known as Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulatum, is a herbal product used to treat symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, which is common in older men. It can cause both obstructive and irritative symptoms, such as increased night-time urination or decreased urinary flow.

Saw palmetto appears to have efficacy similar to that of medications like finasteride, but it is better tolerated, less expensive, and less likely to decrease PSA levels. It is also widely used in other countries; for example, it is used in 50% of treatments for BPH in Italy and in 90% of such treatments in Germany. The active part of the plant is the sterols and free fatty acids found in the berry, which is taken from the partially dried ripe fruit of the American dwarf palm tree.

Some studies have shown that saw palmetto may help increase urine flow and reduce nighttime urination in men with BPH, both when used alone or in combination with traditional drug therapy. However, other studies, including a 2012 Cochrane review, have found no significant difference between saw palmetto and a placebo in improving urinary symptoms.

The most common side effects of saw palmetto include mild gastrointestinal distress, headache, dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. It is considered safe for adults when taken as directed, but it is not recommended for children, anyone who is pregnant or nursing, or women who have had or are at high risk of hormone-related cancer.

It may reduce male pattern baldness

Saw palmetto is a supplement made from the fruit of the Serenoa repens tree, which is native to the southeast regions of North America. It's often used to treat enlarged prostate, improve urinary function, and enhance hair growth.

Saw palmetto may help prevent androgenic alopecia, a type of hair loss also known as male and female pattern baldness in men and women, respectively. It's thought to work by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen-type hormone believed to cause this form of hair loss.

One small study showed that a daily 200-mg dose of saw palmetto, taken with another beneficial plant compound known as beta-sitosterol, reduced hair loss in 60% of men with androgenic alopecia compared to a placebo. In another study, men with male pattern baldness were given 320 mg of saw palmetto per day or finasteride, a conventional hair loss medication. By the end of the study, about one-third of those given saw palmetto reported an increase in hair growth. That said, saw palmetto was only half as effective as the conventional medication.

A small study also reported a small increase in hair count in about half of the men treated with a saw palmetto hair lotion. However, this lotion also contained other active ingredients, making it difficult to isolate the effect of saw palmetto.

Although promising, the research on saw palmetto's effect on hair loss is limited. More studies are needed before strong conclusions can be made.

It may decrease inflammation

Saw palmetto, or Serenoa repens, is a dwarf palm tree native to the southeast regions of North America. The ripe fruit of the saw palmetto tree is used to make medicine. Saw palmetto blocks certain effects of certain hormones in the body and also has some anti-inflammatory actions.

Saw palmetto has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in preventing complications from prostate surgery. It is also used to treat symptoms of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH), such as increased night-time urination or decreased urinary flow. However, research has shown that saw palmetto may not be effective in treating this condition.

Test-tube research shows that Permixon – a specific formulation of saw palmetto – may reduce markers of inflammation in prostate cells. However, it’s unclear whether other saw palmetto supplements have the same effect.

In a well-validated in vitro assay representative of HF keratinocytes, specifically, stimulation of cultured human keratinocyte cells in vitro, researchers measured changes in gene expression of a spectrum of well-known inflammatory markers. They found that the composition effectively suppressed LPS-activated gene expression of chemokines, including CCL17, CXCL6 and LTB(4) associated with pathways involved in inflammation and apoptosis.

It may help regulate testosterone levels

Saw palmetto is a supplement made from the fruit of the Serenoa repens tree, a dwarf palm tree native to the southeast regions of North America. It is often used to treat enlarged prostate, improve urinary function, and enhance hair growth.

Saw palmetto may help regulate testosterone levels by slowing down 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into a potent androgen hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is an androgen-type hormone believed to cause hair loss. By slowing down 5-alpha reductase, saw palmetto could reduce the effects of DHT as males get older.

One study found that saw palmetto extract resulted in a significant decrease in DHT and an increase in testosterone in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Another randomised controlled trial found that saw palmetto reduced DHT levels by 32%.

However, there is little evidence to confirm that saw palmetto helps regulate testosterone levels. Much of the research into the connection between saw palmetto and testosterone levels is also outdated.

Saw palmetto is widely used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, or BPH. It is the most popular herbal treatment for BPH in the United States, with over 2 million American men using it to treat the condition. Saw palmetto works by stopping the breakdown of testosterone into DHT, which can slow or stop the growth of the prostate gland.

Saw palmetto may also help improve libido by reducing testosterone breakdown. Low testosterone levels are associated with low libido in both men and women.

It may support prostate health

Saw palmetto, also known as the American dwarf palm tree, is a palm plant that grows in the southeast of the United States. Its fruit is used to make medicine.

Saw palmetto is often used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). BPH is a common condition in older men, affecting up to 75% of men in their 70s. It can cause problems with urination, such as increased frequency and urgency, and can disrupt sleep due to excessive nighttime urination.

Saw palmetto may help treat BPH by improving urine flow and reducing nighttime urination. However, research on its effectiveness is mixed, with some studies finding no improvement in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) compared to a placebo.

Saw palmetto may also help prevent complications from prostate surgery, such as blood loss, and may reduce the time spent in surgery and in the hospital after surgery. It is thought to work by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an androgen-type hormone believed to contribute to hair loss and prostate growth.

Additionally, saw palmetto seems to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the prostate, and this effect may be enhanced when combined with lycopene and selenium. However, it is important to note that saw palmetto has not been conclusively shown to be effective for BPH, and more research is needed to confirm its benefits for prostate health.

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