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How do I Choose the Best Saw Palmetto Extract?

Christian Petersen
Christian Petersen

Saw palmetto extract is derived from the berries of the saw palmetto plant, which has the scientific name Serenoa repens. Several clinical studies of saw palmetto extract have shown it to have a beneficial effect on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlargement of the prostate gland, although it is not approved by the FDA as a treatment for BPH. Saw palmetto may have other uses in holistic medicine as well. Choosing the right saw palmetto extract is a matter of determining what benefit you hope to get from the supplement and then finding a manufacturer you trust.

The primary use of extract of saw palmetto berries is for treatment of an enlarged prostate and by association, nocturia, or frequent night time urination. Some other reported benefits of saw palmetto include treatment for hair loss, erectile dysfunction and post-operative treatment of bleeding following prostate surgery. While there is some evidence that saw palmetto provides a benefit to patients in these situations, none of them have been conclusively proven in clinical trials.

People should consult with a pharmacist or doctor before using palmetto extract.
People should consult with a pharmacist or doctor before using palmetto extract.

Before choosing an extract, carefully read the labels of all the possible choices. Many products are formulated with other herbs and ingredients other than saw palmetto. You should choose one that has no other active ingredients. Other herbs and supplements may have effects which are undesirable. One exception to this is taking saw palmetto for erectile dysfunction. Many herbal products for this problem contain saw palmetto and a variety of other herbs like yerba mate and black cohosh.

Saw palmetto extract may have several uses in holistic medicine.
Saw palmetto extract may have several uses in holistic medicine.

Saw palmetto extract is more desirable than whole berries. The extract form is more readily absorbed by the body and is a more pure form of the supplement. Berries may vary in the amount of active ingredient they contain, which is in the form of four types of compounds: plant sterols, free fatty alcohols, monoglycerides and free fatty acids. The free fatty acids are believed to be the primary ingredient that provides the desired effect.

Saw palmetto may slow or stop hair loss.
Saw palmetto may slow or stop hair loss.

Choose a supplement that provides the desired dosage of saw palmetto extract. Dr. Ray Sahelian, author of Saw Palmetto: Nature's Prostate Healer suggests that for a saw palmetto product to be effective, it should provide 320 mg of 85% to 95% fatty acid extract, or 640 mg of a 45% fatty acid extract. Not all products will provide this amount of the active fatty acids.

Saw palmetto extract is derived from the berries of the saw palmetto plant.
Saw palmetto extract is derived from the berries of the saw palmetto plant.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before beginning any regimen of herbal supplements, including saw palmetto. While studies have not revealed any known side effects from taking this supplement, only a health professional is qualified to gauge its safety for your use.

Discussion Comments

ZipLine

@MikeMason-- Thanks for that information. I didn't know that.

Isn't there a scientific institution that actually does testing on extracts to see if they really contain what they say they do? It would be a good idea to check their list for brands that they approve of.

I took saw palmetto for hair loss a very long time ago. I don't even remember what type I had used or the brand. I didn't use it for very long though. It gave me acne for some weird reason so I stopped using it before I could see any results with my hair.

But if I were to use it again, I would definitely go for the standardized ones, and organic certified. I think organic supplements are safer and more beneficial in general even though they are on the pricier side.

stoneMason

@ddljohn-- Was the first product you tried a standardized one?

Standardized means that every bottle and every capsule of the product really has what the label claims to have. So if you have a bottle of standardized 95% saw palmetto extract and 320 mg in each capsule, you know that's what you're getting.

If it's not standardized, it could be any amount. Even though the label says 320 mg, you might actually be getting much less of the extract per capsule.

I'm guessing that's what happened in your case and why the first brand didn't work for you. I always get standardized saw palmetto supplements.

ddljohn

I've been taking 320mg of 95% saw palmetto berry extract for several months. I've tried two different brands. The first brand I tried didn't do anything for me. In fact, my prostate problems worsened during that month.

Then, I switched to another brand and after a couple of weeks, my prostate started improving. At my last visit with my doctor, he said that the enlargement had stopped. I'm not sure if the palmetto extract is responsible for it, but I'm guessing so.

So to find the best saw palmetto extract, you might have to go through some trial and error. Even though the two brands I tried essentially were the "same" product, one worked and the other didn't.

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    • People should consult with a pharmacist or doctor before using palmetto extract.
      By: Deklofenak
      People should consult with a pharmacist or doctor before using palmetto extract.
    • Saw palmetto extract may have several uses in holistic medicine.
      By: Melpomene
      Saw palmetto extract may have several uses in holistic medicine.
    • Saw palmetto may slow or stop hair loss.
      By: Barabas Attila
      Saw palmetto may slow or stop hair loss.
    • Saw palmetto extract is derived from the berries of the saw palmetto plant.
      By: Michael Roush
      Saw palmetto extract is derived from the berries of the saw palmetto plant.
    • The primary use of saw palmetto berries is to treat an enlarged prostate.
      By: peterjunaidy
      The primary use of saw palmetto berries is to treat an enlarged prostate.