Enlarged prostate is a common problem in men aged 50 and older. The condition occurs when the prostate grows so big that it starts taking up more space than usual. This is why men with enlarged prostate glands will often experience trouble with urination, as the enlarged prostate squeezes the urethra, which passes through the gland. This condition is also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as it is not associated with cancer.
The condition can be treated in several ways. One treatment involves natural medicine. Several types of natural medicine, which allegedly alleviate symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, are sold today. Among the most popular types, you will find the plant-based drugs based on the fruit of the saw palmetto, where the pills contain an extract from a type of dwarf palm trees in the Southeastern United States.
Early research suggests a positive effect
Saw palmetto supplements have been popular for several years. In 2002, an analysis of results from 21 studies showed that certain advantages were associated with saw palmetto extract. It turned out that men who used this supplement in general had to get up to pee less frequently at night and also had fewer symptoms than men who did not take the supplement. However, it has to be mentioned that several of these studies were based on small populations, and that some of the methods for assessing the degree of symptom alleviation should ideally have been more scientific than what was he case. None the less, the conclusion from the studies shows that saw palmetto extract did have a positive effect.
What does recent research suggest?
In later studies with larger populations and improved methods, it turned out that this effect might not be so promising after all. In 2006, one of these studies showed that saw palmetto extract had no effect on symptoms from the urinary system in men with enlarged prostate glands. In 2011, another study showed even more discouraging results after testing saw palmetto extract, as researchers did not observe any changes in BPH symptoms when comparing men who took placebo with men who took saw palmetto extract over a period of 72 weeks. During this period, the normal daily dose was tripled.
However, another study from 2011 showed the opposite; it found that in men who took the supplement, there was a reduction in prostate size, less inflammation of the gland and no negative impact on testosterone. This effect is possibly built upon the saw palmetto’s ability to block the hormones oestrogen and androgens in men; substances which increase with age and which stimulate growth of the prostate.
Finally, a large study from 2012 showed that the extract has no effect on self-reported symptoms compared to placebo.
Despite the results from the studies, the supplement is still sold in many health food stores and a lot of men say that it does work for them. Whether this is actually due to the pills, or whether the placebo effect plays a role can be discussed, but if it eases their symptoms and does not cause any side effects, the underlying explanation really does not matter – as long as it works.
Sources:
1) http://secure.healthafter50.com/alerts/enlarged_prostate/Saw-Palmetto-for-BPE_6491-1.html
