S. repens is safe in its application .
We suggest that strong placebo effect , potentially influenced by positive patients ' expectation on S. repens , shapes both the clinical practice outcomes and the findings of clinical trials .
Hitherto , the totality of evidence continues to suggest that S. repens is a prudent therapeutic option as part of the naturopathic treatment for LUTS/BPH .
OBJECTIVES Benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) commonly affects men above 40 years old .
The progression of BPH is often accompanied with lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) that can significantly affect the quality of life of the patients .
Serenoa repens ( saw palmetto ) is a popular herbal remedy indicated for LUTS/BPH .
We review ed the current research on the efficacy of S. repens on LUTS/BPH as a monotherapy as well as combination therapies .
RESULTS The latest evidence , based largely on the Cochrane review , suggests that S. repens is not superior to placebo in treating LUTS/BPH as a monotherapy , even at double and triple doses .
Initial clinical trials on treatment of LUTS/BPH using S. repens with lycopene and selenium , as well as S. repens with Urtica Dioica , have shown positive results .
Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Category IIIA with Serenoa repens plus Selenium and Lycopene (Profluss®) versus S. repens Alone: An Italian Randomized Multicenter-Controlled Study
Objectives : To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens + selenium and lycopene ( Profluss ® ) versus S. repens alone for the treatment of category IIIa chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome ( CP/CPPS ) . Patients and Methods : 102 patients with IIIa CP/CPPS were enrolled and r and omized into two groups each to receive Profluss or S. repens alone for 8 weeks . Evaluation was based on results of the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index ( NIH-CPSI ) , IPSS , maximum peak flow rate ( MPFR ) , and PSA measurements at baseline and at weeks 4 , 8 and 8 after the end of treatment . The primary endpoint was a > 50 % reduction in NIH-CPSI score . Secondary endpoints evaluated were MPFR , IPSS , PSA and white blood cell count . Results : No patients withdrew from the study . The mean NIH-CPSI score decreased significantly ( p < 0.001 ) in both groups ; we observed a decrease in the total score from 27.45 to 13.27 in group 1 ( –51.64 % ) and from 27.76 to 20.62 in group 2 ( –26.06 % ) . IPSS improved significantly ( p < 0.001 ) in both arms , but more in group 1 . PSA and white blood cell count decreased significantly ( p < 0.007 ) only in group 1 . The MPFR improved more in group 1 ( p < 0.005 ) . Conclusion : Profluss is a triple therapy that is safe and well tolerated . It ameliorates symptoms associated with IIIa CP/CPPS
S. repens is safe in its application .
We suggest that strong placebo effect , potentially influenced by positive patients ' expectation on S. repens , shapes both the clinical practice outcomes and the findings of clinical trials .
Hitherto , the totality of evidence continues to suggest that S. repens is a prudent therapeutic option as part of the naturopathic treatment for LUTS/BPH .
OBJECTIVES Benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) commonly affects men above 40 years old .
The progression of BPH is often accompanied with lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) that can significantly affect the quality of life of the patients .
Serenoa repens ( saw palmetto ) is a popular herbal remedy indicated for LUTS/BPH .
We review ed the current research on the efficacy of S. repens on LUTS/BPH as a monotherapy as well as combination therapies .
RESULTS The latest evidence , based largely on the Cochrane review , suggests that S. repens is not superior to placebo in treating LUTS/BPH as a monotherapy , even at double and triple doses .
Initial clinical trials on treatment of LUTS/BPH using S. repens with lycopene and selenium , as well as S. repens with Urtica Dioica , have shown positive results .