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Also known as Serenoa repens
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.
We link to relevant studies and leave interpretation to you and your healthcare professional.
Number of audited published findings for Saw Palmetto by condition. Drill into a pair page for the full breakdown.
Where people report using it and what trials suggest
Common claims the trials do not support
Prostate herb that failed its large definitive trials; a cautionary tale for herbal urology claims.
Safety notes: Well tolerated; may falsely lower PSA slightly — tell your urologist.
Evidence grades reflect study quality and consistency, not marketing claims.
Summaries of published trial results for this compound, grouped by condition. Numbers are reported exactly as the researchers published them — we never calculate or convert.
How to read this table
In short: benefit is what was observed; evidence is how much you should trust the observation. A “Benefit seen” tag on a weak study counts for far less than the same tag on a meta-analysis.
| Outcome measured | What trials found | Effect size | People studied | Duration | Type of evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair growth response | Saw palmetto improved hair growth in 38% compared to 68% with finasteride in this open-label study.No clear benefit | 38% response rate | 100 | 24 months | RCT · 2012 | PMID 23298508 |
| Outcome measured | What trials found | Effect size | People studied | Duration | Type of evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| adverse events | Serenoa repens showed little to no difference in adverse events versus placebo in 4,853 participants over short- and long-term follow-up. |
Associated conditions and community-reported outcomes, wrapped together on one page. Aggregates appear only once enough reports arrive.
How this compound is sold in the UK, and where our readers typically find it.
Retailer search links — we may earn commission on purchases at no cost to you. Commission never affects our evidence ratings.
| no number reported |
| 4,853 |
| short- and long-term follow-up |
| Meta-analysis · 2021 |
| PMID 34488251 |
| adverse events (combination therapy) | Results on adverse events for Serenoa repens combined with other phytotherapy versus placebo in 4,853 participants are very uncertain.Unclear | no number reported | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | Meta-analysis · 2021 | PMID 34488251 |
| quality of life | Serenoa repens showed little to no difference in quality of life versus placebo in 4,853 participants over short- and long-term follow-up.No clear benefit | no number reported | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | Meta-analysis · 2021 | PMID 34488251 |
| quality of life (combination therapy) | Results on quality of life for Serenoa repens combined with other phytotherapy versus placebo in 4,853 participants are very uncertain.Unclear | no number reported | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | Meta-analysis · 2021 | PMID 34488251 |
| urinary symptoms score | Serenoa repens showed little to no difference in urinary symptoms versus placebo in 4,853 participants over short- and long-term follow-up.No clear benefit | no number reported | 4,853 | short- and long-term follow-up | Meta-analysis · 2021 | PMID 34488251 |
| urinary symptoms score (combination therapy) | Serenoa repens combined with other phytotherapy may slightly reduce urinary symptoms versus placebo in 4,853 participants over short-term follow-up, but results are uncertain.Unclear | no number reported | 4,853 | short-term follow-up | Meta-analysis · 2021 | PMID 34488251 |
| Decreased libido | Serenoa repens had fewer cases of decreased libido compared with tamsulosin (OR 5.40) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [1.17, 24.87]; p = 0.03)Benefit seen | 5.40 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| Ejaculation disorders | Serenoa repens had fewer ejaculation disorders compared with tamsulosin (OR 12.56) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [3.83, 41.18], p < 0.0001)Benefit seen | 12.56 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) | Serenoa repens showed no significant difference in IPSS compared with tamsulosin (MD 0.63) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [-0.33, 1.59], p = 0.20)No clear benefit | 0.63 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| Maximum flow rate (Qmax) | Serenoa repens showed no significant difference in Qmax compared with tamsulosin (MD 0.27) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [-0.15, 0.68], p = 0.21)No clear benefit | 0.27 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| Postvoid residual volume (PVR) | Serenoa repens showed no significant difference in PVR compared with tamsulosin (MD -4.23) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [-22.97, 14.44], p = 0.65)No clear benefit | -4.23 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| Prostate volume (PV) | Tamsulosin showed greater improvement in PV compared with Serenoa repens (MD -0.29) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [-0.41, -0.17], p < 0.00001)Benefit seen | -0.29 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) | Serenoa repens showed no significant difference in PSA compared with tamsulosin (MD 0.46) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [-0.06, 0.97], p = 0.08)No clear benefit | 0.46 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| Quality of Life (QoL) | Serenoa repens showed no significant difference in QoL compared with tamsulosin (MD 1.51) in 1,080 patients over at least 6 months. (95% CI [-1.51, 4.52], p = 0.33)No clear benefit | 1.51 | 1,080 | at least 6-month treatment cycle | Meta-analysis · 2020 | PMID 32274957 |
| Clinical response | Saw palmetto did not increase clinical response compared to placebo; response rates were 42.6% and 44.2%, respectively. (95% CI 0.76 to 1.22)No clear benefit | 0.96 risk ratio | — | — | Meta-analysis · 2012 | PMID 23235581 |
| Nightly urination | Saw palmetto did not significantly decrease nightly urination compared to placebo. (P = 0.19)No clear benefit | no number reported | — | — | Meta-analysis · 2012 | PMID 23235581 |
| Peak urine flow | Saw palmetto did not significantly improve peak urine flow compared to placebo. (95% CI -0.30 to 1.09)No clear benefit | 0.40 mL/s | — | — | Meta-analysis · 2012 | PMID 23235581 |
| Prostate size | Saw palmetto did not significantly reduce prostate size compared to placebo. (95% CI -3.91 to 1.47)No clear benefit | -1.22 cc | — | — | Meta-analysis · 2012 | PMID 23235581 |
| Urinary symptoms | Saw palmetto did not improve urinary symptom scores compared to placebo; the mean difference was 0.25 points. (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.58 to 1.07)No clear benefit | 0.25 points | — | — | Meta-analysis · 2012 | PMID 23235581 |
| Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate prostate-specific concerns score | Prostate-specific concerns improved in the saw palmetto group compared to placebo in 21 men over 22 weeks (P = 0.03). (P = 0.03)Benefit seen | no number reported | 21 | 22 weeks | RCT · 2016 | PMID 26891611 |
| International Prostate Symptom Score | No significant difference in symptom scores was found between saw palmetto and placebo in 21 men over 22 weeks.No clear benefit | no number reported | 21 | 22 weeks | RCT · 2016 | PMID 26891611 |
| Use of physician-prescribed medications to manage LUTS | No men in the saw palmetto group needed medication for symptoms compared to two in the placebo group among 21 men over 22 weeks.Benefit seen | 0 | 21 | 22 weeks | RCT · 2016 | PMID 26891611 |