Home Ingredients Prostpalm® (Saw Palmetto for Prostate — BGG)
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Prostpalm® (Saw Palmetto for Prostate — BGG)

Serenoa repens
Evidence Level
Limited
3 Clinical Trials
2 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Prostpalm® is a saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) fruit extract from BGG, a natural ingredient supplier. Saw palmetto has been tested for decades in men with urinary symptoms from prostate enlargement, and the large independent trials have been negative: a one-year trial in 225 men and a 72-week trial in 369 men at up to three times the usual 320 mg dose found no improvement over placebo, and an updated Cochrane review of 27 studies in 4,656 men concluded that saw palmetto alone gives little to no benefit. One specific hexane extract sold as Permixon® has its own positive pooled analysis, but that result does not transfer to other extracts. BGG has publicized two small studies of its saw palmetto extract in Japanese journals that are not indexed in PubMed. Saw palmetto is generally well tolerated. New or worsening urinary symptoms should be checked by a doctor.

Studied Dose 320 mg/day, the standard dose in most saw palmetto trials; one 72-week trial raised the dose to 640 and then 960 mg/day without benefit over placebo. No dose of Prostpalm® itself has been tested in a PubMed-indexed trial.
Active Compound Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) fruit extract, rich in fatty acids and plant sterols.

Benefits

Prostate-related urinary symptoms and urine flow

In independent trials, saw palmetto was not superior to placebo: a one-year trial in 225 men found no difference in symptom scores or urine flow, and a 72-week trial in 369 men at up to triple dose found the same. Reviews pooling up to 32 randomized trials found little or no benefit for symptoms, flow or prostate size; only a pooled analysis of one other extract, Permixon, reported slightly fewer night-time voids and better flow.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Tolerability over a year or more

Across the pooled trials and the long independent trials, side effects on saw palmetto were similar to placebo, and no clearly attributable adverse effects were seen at up to three times the usual dose over 72 weeks. Good tolerability does not mean the extract improves urinary symptoms.

Supported by Trial 3, Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Proposed 5-alpha-reductase action

Saw palmetto is often said to act on 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. In the placebo-controlled trials pooled by Cochrane and in a one-year independent trial, prostate size did not change more than on placebo, so any such action has not translated into a measurable effect in men.

Clinical trials

1
Cochrane Review 2012: No Improvement in Urinary Flow or Prostate Size
PubMed

Systematic review of 32 randomized trials of saw palmetto in men with urinary symptoms consistent with BPH, lasting 4 to 72 weeks (Tacklind et al. 2012, Cochrane Database Syst Rev).

5,666 men with lower urinary tract symptoms consistent with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

In two high-quality long-term trials, saw palmetto was not superior to placebo for symptom scores; peak urine flow, night-time urination and prostate size also did not improve. The authors concluded that saw palmetto, even at double and triple doses, did not improve urinary flow measures or prostate size.

2
STEP Trial: One-Year Placebo-Controlled Trial of Saw Palmetto
PubMed

Double-blind, randomized trial of saw palmetto extract 160 mg twice a day or placebo for one year (Bent et al. 2006, N Engl J Med).

225 men over 49 years old with moderate to severe symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

No significant difference from placebo in symptom score change, peak urine flow, prostate size, leftover urine, quality of life or PSA. Side effects were similar in both groups.

3
CAMUS Trial: Increasing Doses of Saw Palmetto for 72 Weeks
PubMed

Double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled randomized trial at 11 North American sites; saw palmetto extract at 320 mg/day, raised to 640 and then 960 mg/day at 24 and 48 weeks (Barry et al. 2011, JAMA).

369 men aged 45 or older with moderate urinary symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Symptom scores fell 2.20 points with saw palmetto and 2.99 points with placebo; the 0.79-point difference favored placebo. Saw palmetto was no more effective than placebo for any secondary outcome, including night-time urination and urine flow, and no clearly attributable adverse effects were identified.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated; side effects were similar to placebo in long-term trials.
Digestive complaints were the most frequent side effect (about 4%) in a pooled analysis of one saw palmetto extract.
New or worsening urinary symptoms should be checked by a doctor, because they can have causes other than prostate enlargement.

Important Drug interactions

No drug interactions were reported in the cited trials and reviews. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take blood thinners or prescription medicines for the prostate.
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride): no combined-use trials; discuss with your doctor.
Hormone-sensitive cancers: talk with your oncologist before use.

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Frequently asked questions about Prostpalm® (Saw Palmetto for Prostate — BGG)

What is Prostpalm?

Prostpalm® is a saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) fruit extract from BGG, a natural ingredient supplier. Saw palmetto has been tested for decades in men with urinary symptoms from prostate enlargement, and the large independent trials have been negative: a one-year trial in 225 men and a 72-week trial in 369 men at up to t…

What is Prostpalm used for?

Prostpalm is researched primarily for Men's Health and Prostate Health. In independent trials, saw palmetto was not superior to placebo: a one-year trial in 225 men found no difference in symptom scores or urine flow, and a 72-week trial in 369 men at up to triple dose found the same.

What is the recommended dosage of Prostpalm?

The clinically studied dose is 320 mg/day, the standard dose in most saw palmetto trials; one 72-week trial raised the dose to 640 and then 960 mg/day without benefit over placebo. No dose of Prostpalm® itself has been tested in a PubMed-indexed trial. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Prostpalm safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Prostpalm include: Generally well tolerated; side effects were similar to placebo in long-term trials. Digestive complaints were the most frequent side effect (about 4%) in a pooled analysis of one saw palmetto extract. It may also interact with some medications. Prostpalm is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Prostpalm interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: No drug interactions were reported in the cited trials and reviews. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you take blood thinners or prescription medicines for the prostate. 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (finasteride, dutasteride): no combined-use trials; discuss with your doctor. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Prostpalm?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Prostpalm as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 3 study summaries and 7 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(7 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Cai T, Cui Y, Yu S, Li Q, Zhou Z, Gao Z Comparison of Serenoa repens With Tamsulosin in the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Mens Health. 2020;14(2):1557988320905407. doi: 10.1177/1557988320905407.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 4 studies in 1,080 men comparing saw palmetto with tamsulosin for at least 6 months. Symptom scores, quality of life, urine flow and residual urine were similar between the two, tamsulosin reduced prostate volume more, and ejaculation disorders and decreased libido were less common with saw palmetto. There was no placebo group, so it cannot show that either treatment worked better than placebo. The Prostpalm extract was not studied.
  2. Vela-Navarrete R, Alcaraz A, Rodríguez-Antolín A, Miñana López B, Fernández-Gómez JM, Angulo JC, Castro Díaz D, Romero-Otero J, Brenes FJ, Carballido J, Molero García JM, Fernández-Pro Ledesma A, Cózar Olmos JM, Manasanch Dalmau J, Subirana Cachinero I, Herdman M, Ficarra V Efficacy and safety of a hexanic extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon(®) ) for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH): systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. BJU Int. 2018;122(6):1049-1065. doi: 10.1111/bju.14362.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 27 studies (15 RCTs and 12 observational, 5,800 participants) of one product only, the hexanic extract Permixon at 320 mg/day. Compared with placebo it was associated with 0.64 fewer night-time voids and a 2.75 mL/s larger rise in peak flow; digestive complaints were the most common side effect (3.8%). This result belongs to Permixon and does not transfer to Prostpalm or other extracts.
  3. Tacklind J, Macdonald R, Rutks I, Stanke JU, Wilt TJ Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;12(12):CD001423. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001423.pub3.PubMedUsed to support: Cochrane review of 32 randomized trials (5,666 men). In two high-quality long-term trials saw palmetto was not superior to placebo for urinary symptom scores; peak flow, night-time urination and prostate size also did not improve. Conclusion: saw palmetto, even at double and triple doses, did not improve urinary flow measures or prostate size.
  4. Franco JVA, Trivisonno LF, Sgarbossa N, Alvez GA, Fieiras C, Escobar Liquitay CM, Jung JH Serenoa repens for the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Enlargement: An Updated Cochrane Review. World J Mens Health. 2024;42(3):518-530. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.230222.PubMedUsed to support: Updated Cochrane review of 27 studies in 4,656 participants. Saw palmetto results in little to no difference in urinary symptoms or quality of life at short-term follow-up (high certainty) and probably little to no difference in adverse events. Conclusion: saw palmetto alone provides little to no benefit for men with urinary symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement.
  5. Bent S, Kane C, Shinohara K, Neuhaus J, Hudes ES, Goldberg H, Avins AL Saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia. N Engl J Med. 2006;354(6):557-66. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa053085.PubMedUsed to support: Double-blind trial in 225 men over 49 with moderate to severe BPH symptoms, saw palmetto 160 mg twice daily or placebo for one year. No significant difference in symptom scores, peak flow, prostate size, residual urine, quality of life or PSA; side effects were similar in both groups.
  6. Barry MJ, Meleth S, Lee JY, Kreder KJ, Avins AL, Nickel JC, Roehrborn CG, Crawford ED, Foster HE Jr, Kaplan SA, McCullough A, Andriole GL, Naslund MJ, Williams OD, Kusek JW, Meyers CM, Betz JM, Cantor A, McVary KT Effect of increasing doses of saw palmetto extract on lower urinary tract symptoms: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2011;306(12):1344-51. doi: 10.1001/jama.2011.1364.PubMedUsed to support: CAMUS trial: 369 men aged 45 or older took saw palmetto at 320 mg/day, raised to two and then three times that dose, or placebo for 72 weeks. Symptom scores fell 2.20 points on saw palmetto and 2.99 on placebo, a difference favoring placebo; saw palmetto was no better than placebo for any secondary outcome, and no clearly attributable adverse effects were seen.
  7. Moloughney S BGG's Saw Palmetto Extract Shown to Reduce Urinary Issues Nutraceuticals World. 2019;Published September 24, 2019..SourceUsed to support: Trade press report, not PubMed-indexed. It reports two BGG-funded studies of BGG's saw palmetto extract (the article does not name Prostpalm), published in Japanese journals: an 8-week placebo-controlled trial in 44 volunteers reporting fewer urinary issues, and a safety study at six times the recommended dose. The dose and full results are not given, and the studies could not be reviewed here.