5 Promising Benefits and Uses of Saw Palmetto

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Saw palmetto ( Serenoa repens ) is a type of handle native to the southeastern United States. The berries of the plant are normally used in supplements to improve prostate gland health, libra hormone levels, and prevent hair loss in men. It ’ south besides associated with other benefits, including decreased excitement and improved urinary routine. here are 5 predict benefits and uses of see palmetto . partake on Pinterest

1. Prevents hair loss

Hair loss is a common condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, sealed medical conditions, hormonal changes, and the manipulation of medications, such as stimulants and blood thinners ( 1 ). Saw palmetto is often used to balance hormone levels and combat hair’s-breadth personnel casualty. According to one reappraisal, saw palmetto may help block the bodily process of 5-alpha reductase ( 5α-R ), an enzyme that converts testosterone into a hormone linked to hair loss called dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ). It may besides prevent hair loss by reducing the consumption of DHT in the hair follicles, which decreases its ability to bind to specific hormone receptors ( 2 ). In one discipline, saw palmetto was effective at improving hair emergence in 60 % of men with male pattern baldness between the ages of 23 and 64 ( 3 ). Another study in 62 adults showed that applying saw palmetto locally for 3 months increased hair concentration by 35 % ( 2 ) .

summary Saw palmetto may ward off hair’s-breadth loss and increase haircloth density by decreasing levels of a specific enzyme related to hair loss .

2. Improves urinary tract function

urinary tract symptoms are common among older men and can include issues like dissoluteness and difficulty make ( 4 ). Saw palmetto may improve urinary symptoms associated with benign prostate hyperplasia ( BPH ) — a condition that causes an enlargement of the prostate gland and results in decreased urine menstruate. One 12-week study in 92 men showed that taking two capsules daily of Prostataplex, a mix of herb tea supplements that includes go steady palmetto, helped improve urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH ( 5 ). similarly, another sketch in 85 men over the old age of 45 found that treatment with 160 magnesium of learn palmetto doubly casual reduced lower urinary tract symptoms, increased urine flow, and improved overall quality of biography after 6 months ( 6 ). however, more inquiry is needed to determine whether saw palmetto may besides improve urinary tract function in the general population, including for those without prostate issues .

summary Saw palmetto may improve urinary tract function and could aid in the treatment of urinary tract symptoms caused by BPH. however, more research is needed .

3. May support prostate health

The prostate gland is a small gland located between the bladder and the penis in men, which is responsible for maintaining sperm health ( 7 ). Some inquiry suggests that see palmetto could support prostate health and may aid in preventing issues like BPH and prostate cancer. According to one test-tube study, saw palmetto berry extract was able to decrease the increase of prostate cancer cells ( 8 ). Another test-tube study showed that saw palmetto blocked the spread and emergence of prostate gland cancer cells by deactivating specific receptors involved in cancer development ( 9 ). early human and animal studies indicate that it may be effective at reducing urinary symptoms and excitement related to BPH ampere well ( 5, 6, 10 ). so far, some studies don ’ metric ton associate saw palmetto with a lower risk of prostate cancer and observe that it may be ineffective at decreasing symptoms of BPH ( 11, 12, 13 ). far high-quality research is needed to evaluate how visualize palmetto may affect prostate health in humans .

summary Test-tube studies show that saw palmetto may help decrease the increase of prostate cancer cells. It may besides help improve symptoms of BPH, but research is inconclusive .

4. May decrease inflammation

Saw palmetto contains the antioxidants epicatechin and methyl gallate — compounds that prevent price to cells, decrease excitement, and protect against chronic disease ( 14, 15 ). Some research shows that saw palmetto may have anti-inflammatory properties, which could be beneficial in treating certain conditions. For model, one study observed that giving saw palmetto extract to mice with hypertrophied prostate glands decreased swelling and several markers of inflammation, including interleukin 6 ( IL-6 ) ( 10 ). Another study in corpulent rats with BPH found that saw palmetto was effective at decreasing inflammation and improving antioxidant condition ( 16 ). Although these results are promising, extra studies are needed to determine how see palmetto may impact inflammation in humans .

summary Saw palmetto is high in antioxidants and has been shown to decrease inflammation in some animal studies. however, more high-quality homo studies are needed .

5. May help regulate testosterone levels

Saw palmetto is often used by men looking to boost testosterone levels naturally. Regulating testosterone levels can impact several aspects of health, including body composing, sex drive, temper, and cognition ( 17 ). testosterone levels decline with historic period, and some inquiry shows that depleted levels of testosterone could contribute to conditions like heart disease ( 18 ). Saw palmetto works by decreasing the bodily process of 5α-R — an enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ), another sex hormone, to help preserve testosterone levels in the torso ( 19 ). One test-tube study found that the potency of see palmetto excerpt was comparable to finasteride in preserving testosterone levels. Finasteride is a medication used to treat haircloth passing and BPH by reducing the activity of 5α-R ( 20 ). Another study in 40 men observed that treatment with attend palmetto decreased levels of DHT by 32 % after 6 months, suggesting that saw palmetto was effective at maintaining testosterone levels ( 21 ) .

summary Test-tube and human studies show that saw palmetto could decrease the action of an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, helping to maintain testosterone levels naturally .

Forms and dosage recommendations

Saw palmetto is wide available in supplement form, making it incredibly easy to add to your day by day routine. It comes in ejection seat, softgel, and tablet human body and is frequently combined with other ingredients that help enhance prostate gland health, such as pumpkin seed extract ( 22 ). Less normally, it can besides be found in ground, dried, fluent distill, or powdered tea shape. Most inquiry is conducted using attend palmetto in dosages of 320 mg per day, much divided into two doses. Some recommend taking the supplements with food, which can help minimize digestive issues and prevent adverse english effects .

summary Saw palmetto is available in capsule, softgel, and tablet form, which can be taken in doses of 320 mg per day. It can besides be found in prime, dried, liquid extract, or tea form .

Potential side effects

Saw palmetto is generally considered condom and has been associated with very few english effects. Some of the most normally reported side effects of go steady palmetto in research studies include headache, dizziness, nausea, and constipation ( 23 ). note that saw palmetto is not recommended for everyone. For model, women who are meaning or breastfeeding should avoid taking see palmetto, as it may impact hormone levels ( 24 ). Because it may alter hormone levels, saw palmetto may not be desirable for those taking hormone surrogate therapy or hormonal contraceptives either. More research is needed to evaluate its likely effects ( 25 ). Saw palmetto may besides interfere with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin or Coumadin, which can increase bleeding risk ( 26 ). If you have any implicit in health conditions, are taking certain medications, or are meaning or breastfeed, be certain to consult with your healthcare provider before supplementing with see palmetto .

summary Saw palmetto may cause balmy side effects and should not be taken by those on sealed medications or women who are fraught or breastfeed .

The bottom line

Saw palmetto is a species of handle used to produce a supplement that ’ second packed with health benefits. Promising inquiry shows that saw palmetto may help increase testosterone levels, improve prostate health, reduce ignition, prevent hair personnel casualty, and enhance urinary tract routine. however, some studies have turned up mix results on its potency. extra large-scale human research is needed to understand how interpret palmetto can impact health.

source : https://nutritionline.net
Category : Healthy