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 .
Effect of increasing doses of saw palmetto extract on lower urinary tract symptoms: a randomized trial.
CONTEXT Saw palmetto fruit extracts are widely used for treating lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) ; however , recent clinical trials have question ed their efficacy , at least at st and ard doses ( 320 mg/d ) . OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of saw palmetto extract ( Serenoa repens , from saw palmetto berries ) at up to 3 times the st and ard dose on lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to BPH . DESIGN , SETTING , AND PARTICIPANTS A double-blind , multicenter , placebo-controlled r and omized trial at 11 North American clinical sites conducted between June 5 , 2008 , and October 10 , 2010 , of 369 men aged 45 years or older , with a peak urinary flow rate of at least 4 mL/s , an American Urological Association Symptom Index ( AUASI ) score of between 8 and 24 at 2 screening visits , and no exclusions . INTERVENTIONS One , 2 , and then 3 doses ( 320 mg/d ) of saw palmetto extract or placebo , with dose increases at 24 and 48 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Difference in AUASI score between baseline and 72 weeks . Secondary outcomes included measures of urinary bother , nocturia , peak uroflow , postvoid residual volume , prostate-specific antigen level , participants ' global assessment s , and indices of sexual function , continence , sleep quality , and prostatitis symptoms . RESULTS Between baseline and 72 weeks , mean AUASI scores decreased from 14.42 to 12.22 points ( -2.20 points ; 95 % CI , -3.04 to -1.36 ) [corrected]with saw palmetto extract and from 14.69 to 11.70 points ( -2.99 points ; 95 % CI , -3.81 to -2.17 ) with placebo . The group mean difference in AUASI score change from baseline to 72 weeks between the saw palmetto extract and placebo groups was 0.79 points favoring placebo ( upper bound of the 1-sided 95 % CI most favorable to saw palmetto extract was 1.77 points , 1-sided P = .91 ) . Saw palmetto extract was no more effective than placebo for any secondary outcome . No clearly attributable adverse effects were identified . CONCLUSION Increasing doses of a saw palmetto fruit extract did not reduce lower urinary tract symptoms more than placebo . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00603304
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 .