More than 2 million American men and many in Europe take the herb in an effort to ease their urinary symptoms — the frequent urge to go to the bathroom. In this new study, saw palmetto was no more effective than placebo pills (fake capsules). Findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in early February.

As men age, many develop benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate, a walnut-sized gland that surrounds the urethra. The men recruited for this most recent study had moderate to severe symptoms. One group took 160 miligrams of saw palmetto twice a day.

Men in the second group swallowed a similar-looking, tasting and smelling dummy capsule. Participants in both groups filled out a symptoms survey and had urine flow measured. After a year, no significant difference was detected between the two groups, in symptom changes or other measurements.

An earlier, shorter study found that some men seemed to benefit from taking Saw Palmetto. Until this new research is confirmed by more studies, lead researcher Dr. Stephen Bent of San Francisco’s VA Medical Center advises that men who take the herb and feel it is helpful should probably keep using it.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle (2/9/06)  www.sfgate/chronicle.com

Further Research:
What You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer