Three Reviews Published on Saw Palmetto for BPH, Prostatitis

Three Reviews Published on Saw Palmetto for BPH, Prostatitis

MINNEAPOLIS--Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)provides mild to moderate improvement in symptoms associated with benignprostatic hyperplasia (BPH), according to researchers at the Center for ChronicDisease Outcomes Research who published a research review in the CochraneDatabase of Systematic Reviews (3:CD001423, 2002) (www.medlib.com/spi/cdsr.htm).They reviewed three new trials that involved 230 men, in addition to 21randomized trials that included a total of 3,139 men. Of the 21 trials, 18 weredouble blinded and the researchers deemed the concealment adequate in 11 ofthem. A review of the research indicated that compared with placebo, sawpalmetto improved urinary symptom scores, symptoms and flow measures in men withBPH. In addition, treatment with saw palmetto affected the men equally as wellas the pharmaceutical finasteride, and adverse events were less frequent withherbal therapy compared to traditional therapy. The reviewers concluded sawpalmetto provides mild to moderate improvement in urinary symptoms and flowmeasures.

In related news, a research review out of the University ofChicago on saw palmetto and BPH was published in the August issue of CurrentUrology Reports (3, 4:285-91, 2002) (http://current-reports.com).Glenn S. Gerber, M.D., an associate professor in the department of surgery andthe review's author, noted saw palmetto is the most popular phytotherapeutictreatment among American men with BPH. Gerber claimed standardization is lackingamong phytotherapeutic agents, although in spite of this, there is growingevidence from well-conducted clinical trials that phytotherapeutic agents maylead to subjective and objective symptom improvement beyond the placebo effectin men with BPH. Gerber stated there is evidence demonstrating saw palmettocauses atrophy and epithelial contraction of the prostate gland, and physiciansshould remain open-minded toward alternative therapies and educate themselves tocounsel patients on them.

Other recent news on saw palmetto was published in the Augustissue of Current Urology Reports (3, 4:330-4, 2002), by Daniel A. Shoskes,M.D., F.R.C.S., of the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, Fla. Shoskes reviewedtherapies commonly used by patients with prostatitis, including saw palmetto. Heconcluded complementary therapies may be beneficial to patients, particularlythose with chronic degenerative conditions for which traditional therapies havebeen unsuccessful. He added that alternative therapies require the samescientific criteria for validation and acceptance as conventional medicaltherapies.