EFFECTS OF A SAW PALMETTO HERBAL BLEND IN MEN WITH SYMPTOMATIC BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Purpose: We tested the effects of a saw palmetto herbal blend in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) via a randomized, placebo controlled trial. Materials and Methods: We randomized 44 men 45 to 80 years old with symptomatic BPH into a trial of a saw palmetto herbal blend versus placebo. End points included routine clinical measures (symptom score, uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine volume), blood chemistry studies (prostate specific antigen, sex hormones and multiphasic analysis), prostate volumetrics by magnetic resonance imaging, and prostate biopsy for zonal tissue morphometry and semi-quantitative histology studies. Results: Saw palmetto herbal blend and placebo groups had improved clinical parameters with a slight advantage in the saw palmetto group (not statistically significant). Neither prostate specific antigen nor prostate volume changed from baseline. Prostate epithelial contraction was noted, especially in the transition zone, where percent epithelium decreased from 17.8 % at baseline to 10.7 % after 6 months of saw palmetto herbal blend (p,0.01). Histological studies showed that the percent of atrophic glands increased from 25.2 % to 40.9 % after treatment wit