Serenoa repens was not more effective than placebo for treatment of urinary symptoms consistent with BPH
BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) , a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate , can lead to obstructive and irritative lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) .
The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs ( phytotherapy ) for the treatment of LUTS associated with BPH is common .
The extract of the berry of the American saw palmetto , or dwarf palm plant , Serenoa repens ( also known by its botanical name of Sabal serrulatum ) , is one of several phytotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of BPH .
OBJECTIVES This systematic review aim ed to assess the effects of Serenoa repens in the treatment of LUTS consistent with BPH .
Effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
PURPOSE We tested the effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) via a r and omized , placebo controlled trial . MATERIAL S AND METHODS We r and omized 44 men 45 to 80 years old with symptomatic BPH into a trial of a saw palmetto herbal blend versus placebo . End points included routine clinical measures ( symptom score , uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine volume ) , blood chemistry studies ( prostate specific antigen , sex hormones and multiphasic analysis ) , prostate volumetrics by magnetic resonance imaging , and prostate biopsy for zonal tissue morphometry and semiquantitative histology studies . RESULTS Saw palmetto herbal blend and placebo groups had improved clinical parameters with a slight advantage in the saw palmetto group ( not statistically significant ) . Neither prostate specific antigen nor prostate volume changed from baseline . Prostate epithelial contraction was noted , especially in the transition zone , where percent epithelium decreased from 17.8 % at baseline to 10.7 % after 6 months of saw palmetto herbal blend ( p < 0.01 ) . Histological studies showed that the percent of atrophic gl and s increased from 25 . 2 % to 40.9 % after treatment with saw palmetto herbal blend ( p < 0.01 ) . The mechanism of action appeared to be nonhormonal but it was not identified by tissue studies of apoptosis , cellular proliferation , angiogenesis , growth factors or and rogen receptor expression . We noted no adverse effects of saw palmetto herbal blend . When the study was no longer blinded , 41 men elected to continue therapy in an open label extension . CONCLUSIONS Saw palmetto herbal blend appears to be a safe , highly desirable option for men with moderately symptomatic BPH . The secondary outcome measures of clinical effect in our study were only slightly better for saw palmetto herbal blend than placebo ( not statistically significant ) . However , saw palmetto herbal blend therapy was associated with epithelial contraction , especially in the transition zone ( p < 0.01 ) , indicating a possible mechanism of action underlying the clinical significance detected in other studies
Serenoa repens was not more effective than placebo for treatment of urinary symptoms consistent with BPH
BACKGROUND Benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) , a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate , can lead to obstructive and irritative lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) .
The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs ( phytotherapy ) for the treatment of LUTS associated with BPH is common .
The extract of the berry of the American saw palmetto , or dwarf palm plant , Serenoa repens ( also known by its botanical name of Sabal serrulatum ) , is one of several phytotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of BPH .
OBJECTIVES This systematic review aim ed to assess the effects of Serenoa repens in the treatment of LUTS consistent with BPH .