Prostate gland enlargement

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May, 2006 by Martin W. Banschbach

Twenty-two different preparations of saw palmetto berry extracts are currently being sold in the United Sates. The lipid extract used for this clinical trial was similar to 17 of these in that it had a high fatty acid and sterol content. Variability in active ingredients between different preparations of herbal extracts, as well as changes in content from one batch to another from the same source, is a significant problem. (35) The authors of this first clinical trial of a saw palmetto berry extract to be run in the US state that they did not attempt to characterize their extract because the active ingredients and mechanism of action for saw palmetto berries is not known.

More than 30 different studies have been done in vitro to try to identify what saw palmetto berries do and how they do it. The anti-androgen action of saw palmetto berry extracts is well established; it's the same action that the prescription medications finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart) provide. (36) This action can be measured using cultured human foreskin fibroblasts. The lipid extract of saw palmetto berries also has an anti-inflammatory action, an induction of apoptosis action, and an ability to inhibit cellular proliferation. (36) While the plant chemicals responsible for these actions are not currently known, specific saw palmetto berry extracts can be analyzed to make sure that they have these actions before they are used in clinical trials.

Most European clinical trials of saw palmetto have used the n-hexane liposterolic extract of Serenoa repens manufactured in France called Permixon. (36) The US clinical trial did not use this particular saw palmetto berry extract. Both Consumer Reports (ConsumerReports.org) and Consumer Lab (ConsumerLab.com) have analyzed the saw palmetto berry extracts available to Americans and found some that do not have any of the known in vitro actions of saw palmetto berry extracts. (Consumer Lab reports on saw palmetto berry extracts and many other herbal products are by subscription only, but many libraries will have a substantial number of issues of Consumer Reports.)

Americans are having a hard time trying to decide what to do when it comes to possible natural treatments for human disease. Prostate enlargement is not a life-threatening condition as long as cancer has been ruled out and obstruction of the urinary tract does not occur, but the condition does disrupt the lives of men who suffer from prostate enlargement. Current medical treatments for this problem have undesired side effects. Some natural remedies do produce side effects, but there are no side effects associated with saw palmetto berry ingestion or the extracts made from saw palmetto berries. Native Americans ate the berry from this dwarf palm tree. Since it grows wild along the US coast, the berries can still be harvested and eaten. However, extraction of the oil from these berries now enables individuals not living near the coast to also include this plant food in their diet.