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 .
The efficacy of terazosin, finasteride, or both in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Study Group.
BACKGROUND Men with benign prostatic hyperplasia can be treated with alpha 1-adrenergic-antagonist drugs that relax prostatic smooth muscle or with drugs that inhibit 5 alpha-reductase and therefore reduce tissue and rogen concentrations . However , the effects of the two types of drugs have not been compared . METHODS We compared the safety and efficacy of placebo , terazosin ( 10 mg daily ) , finasteride ( 5 mg daily ) , and the combination of both drugs in 1229 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia .  American Urological Association symptom scores and peak urinary-flow rates were determined at base line and periodically for one year . RESULTS The mean changes from base line in the symptom scores in the placebo , finasteride , terazosin , and combination-therapy groups at one year were decreases of 2.6 , 3.2 , 6.1 , and 6.2 points , respectively ( P<0.001 for the comparisons of both terazosin and combination therapy with finasteride and with placebo ) . The mean changes at one year in the peak urinary-flow rates were increases of 1.4 , 1.6 , 2.7 , and 3.2 ml per second , respectively ( P<0.001 for the comparisons of both terazosin and combination therapy with finasteride and with placebo ) . Finasteride had no more effect on either measure than placebo . In the placebo group , 1.6 percent of the men discontinued the study because of adverse effects , as did 4.8 to 7.8 percent of the men in the other three groups . CONCLUSIONS In men with benign prostatic hyperplasia , terazosin was effective therapy , whereas finasteride was not , and the combination of terazosin and finasteride was no more effective than terazosin alone
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 .