In this network meta- analysis , we demonstrated that SeR did not show clinical ly meaningful improvement in LUTS and PF .
PATIENT SUMMARY In the present study , we found no clinical ly meaningful improvement of Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic enlargement .
CONTEXT International guidelines do not make any specific recommendations on Serenoa repens ( SeR ) for the treatment of male lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) secondary to benign prostatic enlargement ( BPE ) , due to product heterogeneity and method ological limitations of the published trials and meta-analyses .
OBJECTIVE We aim ed to compare the clinical efficacy of hexanic extract of SeR ( HESr ) versus non-HESr ( nHESr ) versus placebo versus alpha-blockers ( ABs ) in patients affected by LUTS secondary to BPE through a network meta- analysis method .
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
In this network meta- analysis , we demonstrated that SeR did not show clinical ly meaningful improvement in LUTS and PF .
PATIENT SUMMARY In the present study , we found no clinical ly meaningful improvement of Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic enlargement .
CONTEXT International guidelines do not make any specific recommendations on Serenoa repens ( SeR ) for the treatment of male lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) secondary to benign prostatic enlargement ( BPE ) , due to product heterogeneity and method ological limitations of the published trials and meta-analyses .
OBJECTIVE We aim ed to compare the clinical efficacy of hexanic extract of SeR ( HESr ) versus non-HESr ( nHESr ) versus placebo versus alpha-blockers ( ABs ) in patients affected by LUTS secondary to BPE through a network meta- analysis method .