5 reasons to skip saw palmetto pills for enlarged prostate
Constantly rushing to the bathroom is a common complaint among among the millions of men who develop an enlarged prostate gland, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It can be seriously inconvenient: Nature’s urgent call may wake you several times a night (even if you’re sleeping on one of our top-rated mattresses). So it’s easy to see the allure of herbal remedies touted on TV and radio, on the Internet, and in vitamin stores.
But what’s in those pills promising to restore healthy prostate function, improve urine flow, and deliver an uninterrupted night’s sleep? They can include the ingredient saw palmetto. Consumers shelled out $145 million in 2013 for saw palmetto products, according to the Nutrition Business Journal. It has been used to treat urologic conditions since the days of the ancient Egyptians. But that long history doesn’t mean it works.
Here are five reasons you should skip saw palmetto and head to the doctor for advice instead.
1. It’s no better than a placebo.
Researchers gave 369 men suffering from symptoms of BPH either a placebo or doses of saw palmetto extract. They tracked their symptoms for up to 72 weeks and concluded that the extract (even at high levels) was no better than a placebo at alleviating symptoms. And a more recent review by the independent Cochrane Collaboration of studies involving a total of 5,666 men came to the same conclusion.
2. Its dosage may vary.
Even if you wanted to try taking a regular dose of saw palmetto, there’s currently no guarantee that the supplement you choose contains what it says it does. One study analyzed six different brands of the supplement and found that half of them contained less than 20 percent of the amount stated on the label.
3. It might not be safe.
Saw palmetto doesn’t seem to have any major side effects, but some users have reported headaches, nausea, and dizziness. However, we haven’t seen studies proving that saw palmetto is actually safe for the long term. In addition, supplements, including saw palmetto, are not well regulated by the FDA, and it’s not uncommon for wily manufacturers to distribute tainted products. You may think you’re taking a “natural” herbal remedy, but for all you know, you could be taking prescription, or even experimental, drugs.
Read more about supplements and find out why vitamin C won't cure your cold.
4. It might mask another problem.
If you have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, including frequent urination, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an enlarged prostate. The same symptoms might pop up if you have prostatitis (an inflamed or infected prostate gland) or a bladder infection that can be treated with an antibiotic. Or the symptoms might even be a side effect of another medication. If supplements relieve your symptoms for some reason, you might neglect treating another ailment.
5. It's a waste of money.
Instead of throwing your dollars away on saw palmetto supplements, see your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and find out about approved drugs that can help. Common treatments include alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. Visit Consumer Reports’ Best Buy Drugs to find out more about drugs it recommends for treating enlarged prostate.
—Lauren Cooper
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