Saw Palmetto

STRENGTH: 200 mg
FORM: 60 capsules

Recently an extract derived from the Saw Palmetto berry has been used to treat male genitourinary problems. It grows naturally in the southeast United States, and has been used as a folk remedy for this issue for hundreds of years. In recent years science has confirmed that Saw Palmetto is an effective herbal remedy in helping to treat the common symptoms associated with and enlarged prostate gland. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a common occurrence in almost all men over 50.

The prostate gland is a walnut shaped gland that surrounds the urethra like a doughnut and produces the seminal fluid that carries the sperm. When the prostate gland enlarges, it tends to compress the urethra, narrowing its diameter and creating symptoms such as restrictive urine flow. Other annoying symptoms of an enlarged prostate are frequent and sometimes painful urination, nighttime urination (nocturia), difficulty in starting and stopping urination, and a feeling that the bladder is not really empty.

If a man experiences symptoms, they should see a physician who will likely do a simple PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test, an excellent screening test for prostate cancer. With the prevalence of prostate cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that this test be performed annually for any man over 40. And in addition to this, many natural and allopathic physicians will recommend that use of Saw Palmetto because it has been shown in clinical studies to have beneficial effects in reducing the symptoms of BPH.

Saw Palmetto Extract can be standardized to 85-86% fatty acids and biologically active sterols. These are believed to be the active components in Saw Palmetto that may nutritionally support healthy prostate and urinary function.

The fatty acids and the other active constituents of Saw Palmetto are:
Free fatty acids. Quite a number of fatty acids are present in saw palmetto. The ones in highest concentration include oleic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid.
Phytosterols (plant sterols). These plant sterols have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol. The most commonly found phytosterols in saw palmetto are beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and cycloartenol.
Free fatty alcohols. These are usually made up of fatty acids joined to an alcohol molecule.
Monoglycerides, which are single fatty acids attached to a three carbon glycerol molecule.

What causes BPH? It is thought that the most likely mechanisms include a reduction in the amount of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in prostate tissue, inhibition of the binding ability of DHT to androgen receptors in prostate cells, and the anti-estrogenic action in prostate tissue. Not long ago a study was performed to validate these theories. A study using 150 men who were clinically diagnosed with BPH and complaints of prostatic symptoms demonstrated that the long-term efficacy and tolerability of a standardized extract of Saw Palmetto could act as a first-line medical therapy for uncomplicated symptomatic BPH. The natural treatment of this controllable form of pre cancerous pathology is one that nature has offered us a treatment for, and that science has validated. †

REFERENCES: