Saw Palmetto is the nation’s third best selling dietary supplement, with 2.5 million men taking it in the hope that it will shrink their enlarged prostate. Now, from researchers at Northwestern University, comes some discouraging news: it won’t. A Northwestern news release
reports that a test that put saw palmetto up against a placebo was won by the placebo. The research involved 300 men over 45, with moderate symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate, a condition that afflicts half of men at age 50 and three-quarters by age 80. Participants took daily doses of identical gelcaps that contained either saw palmetto extract or a placebo. The dosage was doubled 28 weeks into the study and then tripled at 48 weeks. Those receiving saw palmetto started at a standard daily dose of 320 milligrams, increased to 640 and ended at 960. At the end of the 72-week study period, the men taking saw palmetto showed less improvement in a standard index of BPH symptoms than did those taking the placebo. Note to researchers: bank on the placebo. Read more from Northwestern University.
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I have read a more detailed report and the starting dosages where far to small to do any good. the last weeks dosage was only 950 mg. which seems awfully small dosage for someone with serious problems.That would be a three times a day dosage. even then I would do 2000 mg. for a couple of days then bring the dosage down as the problem went away.
Well, larry, you misspelled “too”, so I don’t think your opinion carries much weight.
Well, Hank, you neglected to capitalize the “L” in “larry” so I don’t think your opinion carries much weight.
People with enlarged prostate have four time the change of getting prostate caner I have read that drinking ginger can help the problem. The report I read said it blocked the growth and killed the cancer
I am not a medical doctor or nutritionist, but Andrew, really, drinking ginger will not cure cancer. It will allow a person or company to sell you a lot of ginger for a very short period of time.
I suppose there are some poor grade saw palmetto being sold out there. I thought at my age it was a good idea to take. Been taking it for years. It seemed to be doing nothing, so I stopped. I developed BPH months later after stopping taking saw palmetto. And, it went away after starting to take it again. Choose a good quality. I take a combination of saw palmetto and astaxanthin. I also decided to start taking pumpkin seed oil capsules. I hit the target every time now. Before, I was shooting at least 45 degrees off target and dribbled. I also learned years ago not to trust negative comments about nutrients that appear in journals that work in the interest of drug companies.