What do I tell patients about saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Christopher J Kane; Omer A Raheem; Stephen Bent; Andrew L Avins

doi:10.1016/j.ucl.2011.04.005

What do I tell patients about saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Urol Clin North Am. 2011 Aug;38(3):261-77. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2011.04.005.

Authors

Christopher J Kane¹, Omer A Raheem, Stephen Bent, Andrew L Avins

Affiliation

¹ Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 200 West Arbor Drive, 8897, San Diego, CA 92103-8897, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 21798388
DOI: 10.1016/j.ucl.2011.04.005

Abstract

Saw palmetto is widely used to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although there is passionate support for herbal and complementary therapies for LUTS, clinical evidence is mixed. Because there is a well-recognized, profound placebo effect in tests of efficacy for agents treating LUTS, it is imperative that all therapies be tested in placebo-controlled trials. This article reviews evidence of the efficacy and safety of saw palmetto for men with LUTS caused by BPH, with particular emphasis on published randomized clinical trials and the upcoming Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Urologic Symptoms (CAMUS) trial.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Androgen Antagonists / adverse effects
Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use*
Humans
Male
Phytotherapy
Plant Extracts / adverse effects
Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
Prostatic Hyperplasia / drug therapy*
Serenoa

Substances

Androgen Antagonists
Plant Extracts
saw palmetto extract