Loading…
Berry extract that inhibits 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme converting testosterone to DHT; used for benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms and androgenic hair thinning, though large trials show mixed results versus placebo.
BPH (enlarged prostate), prostate inflammation, and urinary symptoms.
Also known as: Serenoa repens
Every published result for this pair, extracted and audited.
These charts group published studies by what they reported and how they were run — green marks studies that reported a benefit for this pairing. Tiers run from pooled analyses of many trials (strongest) to one-off observational reports.
Direction of reported outcomes for Saw Palmetto in prostate health.
Study designs behind these findings.
Every measured outcome, one row per finding - numbers exactly as reported.
| Study | Design | n | Duration | Outcome measured | Reported result | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 34488251 2021 | Meta-analysis | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | adverse events | reported qualitatively | No benefit |
| PMID 34488251 2021 | Meta-analysis | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | adverse events (combination therapy) | reported qualitatively | Unclear |
| PMID 34488251 2021 | Meta-analysis | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | quality of life | reported qualitatively | No benefit |
| PMID 34488251 2021 | Meta-analysis | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | quality of life (combination therapy) | reported qualitatively | Unclear |
| PMID 34488251 2021 | Meta-analysis | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | urinary symptoms score | reported qualitatively | No benefit |
| PMID 34488251 2021 | Meta-analysis | 4,853 | short-term follow-up | urinary symptoms score (combination therapy) | reported qualitatively | Unclear |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Decreased libido | 5.40 (95% CI [1.17, 24.87]; p = 0.03) | Benefit |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Ejaculation disorders | 12.56 (95% CI [3.83, 41.18], p < 0.0001) | Benefit |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) | 0.63 (95% CI [-0.33, 1.59], p = 0.20) | No benefit |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Maximum flow rate (Qmax) | 0.27 (95% CI [-0.15, 0.68], p = 0.21) | No benefit |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Postvoid residual volume (PVR) | -4.23 (95% CI [-22.97, 14.44], p = 0.65) | No benefit |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Prostate volume (PV) | -0.29 (95% CI [-0.41, -0.17], p < 0.00001) | Benefit |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) | 0.46 (95% CI [-0.06, 0.97], p = 0.08) | No benefit |
| PMID 32274957 2020 | Meta-analysis | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Quality of Life (QoL) | 1.51 (95% CI [-1.51, 4.52], p = 0.33) | No benefit |
| PMID 23235581 2012 | Meta-analysis | - | - | Clinical response | 0.96 risk ratio (95% CI 0.76 to 1.22) | No benefit |
| PMID 23235581 2012 | Meta-analysis | - | - | Nightly urination | reported qualitatively (P = 0.19) | No benefit |
| PMID 23235581 2012 | Meta-analysis | - | - | Peak urine flow | 0.40 mL/s (95% CI -0.30 to 1.09) | No benefit |
| PMID 23235581 2012 | Meta-analysis | - | - | Prostate size | -1.22 cc (95% CI -3.91 to 1.47) | No benefit |
| PMID 23235581 2012 | Meta-analysis | - | - | Urinary symptoms | 0.25 points (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.58 to 1.07) | No benefit |
| PMID 26891611 2016 | Randomised trial | 21 | 22 weeks | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate prostate-specific concerns score | reported qualitatively (P = 0.03) | Benefit |
| PMID 26891611 2016 | Randomised trial | 21 | 22 weeks | International Prostate Symptom Score | reported qualitatively | No benefit |
| PMID 26891611 2016 | Randomised trial | 21 | 22 weeks | Use of physician-prescribed medications to manage LUTS | 0 | Benefit |
Hand-selected PubMed studies, linked to the originals.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Beyond Minoxidil: Off-Label Therapies for Male Androgenetic Alopecia-A Systematic Review with Network Meta-AnalysesGupta AK, et al. · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026PMID 42512824 ↗02Pathophysiology, conventional treatments, and evidence-based herbal remedies of hair loss with a systematic review of controlled clinical trialsAllam AT, et al. · Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2025PMID 40536553 ↗03Effects of dietary supplements on androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review and network meta-analysisZhou L, et al. · Frontiers in nutrition · 2025PMID 41561175 ↗04Serenoa repens for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement: A systematic review and meta-analysisTrivisonno LF, et al. · Investigative and clinical urology · 2021PMID 34488251 ↗Be the first to share what you noticed with Saw Palmetto for prostate health. How we calculate this.