Saw Palmetto Extracts for Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. A Systematic Review

Objective.—To conduct a systematic review and, where possible, quantitative meta-analysis of the existing evidence regarding the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the saw palmetto plant extract, Serenoa repens, in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Data Sources.—Studies were identified through the search of MEDLINE (19661997), EMBASE, Phytodok, the Cochrane Library, bibliographies of identified trials and review articles, and contact with relevant authors and drug companies. Study Selection.—Randomized trials were included if participants had symptomatic BPH, the intervention was a preparation of S repens alone or in combination with other phytotherapeutic agents, a control group received placebo or other pharmacological therapies for BPH, and the treatment duration was at least 30 days. Data Extraction.—Two investigators for each article (T.J.W., A.I., G.S., and R.M.) independently extracted key data on design features, subject characteristics, therapy allocation, and outcomes of the studies. Data Synthesis.—A total of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 2939 men met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Many studies did not report results in a method that permitted meta-analysis. Treatment allocation concealment was adequate in 9 studies; 16 were double-blinded. The mean study duration was 9 weeks (range, 4-48 weeks). As compared with men receiving placebo, men treated with S repens had decreased urinary tract symptom scores (weighted mean difference [WMD], −1.41 points [scale range, 0-19] [95% confidence interval (CI), −2.52 to −0.30] [n = 1 study]), nocturia (WMD, −0.76 times per evening [95% CI, −1.22 to −0.32] [n = 10 studies]), and improvement in self-rating of urinary tract symptoms; risk ratio for improvement (1.72 [95% CI, 1.21-2.44] [n = 6 studies]), and peak urine flow (WMD, 1.93 mL/s [95% CI, 0.72-3.14] [n = 8 studies]). Compared with men receiving finasteride, men treated with S repens had similar improvements in urinary tract symptom scores (WMD, 0.37 International Prostate Symptom Score points [scale range, 0-35] [95% CI, −0.45 to 1.19] [n = 2 studies]) and peak urine flow (WMD, −0.74 mL/s [95% CI, −1.66 to 0.18] [n = 2 studies]). Adverse effects due to S repens were mild and infrequent; erectile dysfunction was more frequent with finasteride (4.9%) than with S repens (1.1%; P,.001). Withdrawal rates in men assigned to placebo, S repens, or finasteride were 7%, 9%, and 11%, respectively. Conclusions.—The existing literature on S repens for treatment of BPH is limited in terms of the short duration of studies and variability in study design, use of phytotherapeutic preparations, and reports of outcomes. However, the evidence suggests that S repens improves urologic symptoms and flow measures. Compared with finasteride, S repens produces similar improvement in urinary tract symptoms and urinary flow and was associated with fewer adverse treatment events. Further research is needed using standardized preparations of S repens to determine its long-term effectiveness and ability to prevent BPH complications. JAMA. 1998;280:1604-1609 SYMPTOMATIC BENIGN prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most commonmedicalconditions inoldermen. As many as 40% of men aged 70 years or older have lower urinary tract symptoms consistent with BPH.1 Treatment goals in the vast majority of men are to relieve irritative (urgency, frequency, and nocturia) and obstructive (weak stream,hesitancy, intermittency,andincomplete emptying) symptoms. In the United States, treatment of BPH exceeds $2 billion in costs, accounts for 1.7 million physician office visits,2 and results in more than 300 000 prostatectomies annually.3 Treatment options include lifestyle modification, device and surgical therapies, and pharmaceutical and phytotherapeutic preparations.4,5 Phytotherapy or the use of plant extracts for treating BPH symptoms was first described in Egypt in the 15th century BC. Currently, phytotherapy is common in Europe and is increasing in the western hemisphere. The sale of all botanical medications in the United States is $1.5 billion per year and the use of phytotherapies increased nearly 70% among US adults in the past year.6,7 Phytotherapeutic agents represent nearly half the medications dispensed for treatment of BPH in Italy, compared with 5% for a-