Does Saw Palmetto Stop Hair Loss?
Saw palmetto is the most popular herbal hair loss treatment, although it does not have the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or large-scale scientific studies to back its use for hair loss 1. Its popularity among hair-loss sufferers rests in its supposed similarities to finasteride as a treatment for enlarged prostates. Proscar, which is a 5 mg finasteride tablet, is used to treat enlarged prostates, while Propecia, which is 1 mg of finasteride, is used to treat hair loss.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
FDA Approved Treatments
As of 2011, minoxidil and finasteride were the only two hair-loss treatments approved by the FDA. Many over-the-counter hair-loss treatments, such as Provillus, include minoxidil packaged with other treatments in order to claim FDA approval, although the only approved item in the package is minoxidil. The lack of an FDA approval does not mean saw palmetto will not work as a hair-loss treatment, only that it has not been shown to work in clinical settings. It is unlikely saw palmetto will ever receive FDA approval, as it is not patented and it typically costs millions of dollars to conduct the tests the FDA requires.
- As of 2011, minoxidil and finasteride were the only two hair-loss treatments approved by the FDA.
- Many over-the-counter hair-loss treatments, such as Provillus, include minoxidil packaged with other treatments in order to claim FDA approval, although the only approved item in the package is minoxidil.
Scientific Studies
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While saw palmetto has not undergone the rigorous tests required for FDA approval, there have been smaller-scale studies done on its effectiveness to treat hair loss. One study, which appeared in the August 2002 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, indicated that 60 percent of those who took a combination of 400 mg of saw palmetto and 100 mg of beta-sitosterol showed more hair growth than those taking a placebo. The study is not without its problems. The sample size of 19 test subjects is too small and the addition of another drug, beta-sitosterol, makes it difficult to determine if any improvement in hair growth is due to the saw palmetto or the beta-sitosterol.
- While saw palmetto has not undergone the rigorous tests required for FDA approval, there have been smaller-scale studies done on its effectiveness to treat hair loss.
- The sample size of 19 test subjects is too small and the addition of another drug, beta-sitosterol, makes it difficult to determine if any improvement in hair growth is due to the saw palmetto or the beta-sitosterol.
Anecdotal Evidence
Saw palmetto has been well tested as a treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy and there is sufficient evidence of its use as a prostate treatment. The Mayo Clinic gives saw palmetto an "A" rating for prostate issues, which means there is "strong scientific evidence for this use." The two approved uses for finasteride are to treat enlarged prostates and hair loss. The assumption is if saw palmetto works as a prostate treatment it should also work as a hair loss treatment, but this has not been proven sufficiently and the Mayo Clinic gives saw palmetto a "C" rating as a hair loss treatment, stating there is "unclear scientific evidence for this use."
- Saw palmetto has been well tested as a treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy and there is sufficient evidence of its use as a prostate treatment.
- The assumption is if saw palmetto works as a prostate treatment it should also work as a hair loss treatment, but this has not been proven sufficiently and the Mayo Clinic gives saw palmetto a "C" rating as a hair loss treatment, stating there is "unclear scientific evidence for this use."
Dosage/Usage
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As saw palmetto is not an approved hair-loss treatment any estimate on the proper dosage to treat hair loss is conjecture 1. Those taking saw palmetto for prostate issues will typically take 320 mg of saw palmetto extract per day. Even though saw palmetto is considered a natural supplement, it does have some potential side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common side effects including nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. It is advised you speak to your doctor before beginning any new treatment.
- As saw palmetto is not an approved hair-loss treatment any estimate on the proper dosage to treat hair loss is conjecture 1.
- Those taking saw palmetto for prostate issues will typically take 320 mg of saw palmetto extract per day.
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References
- Hair Loss Learning Center: Saw Palmetto: The "Active" Ingredient in Many Popular Hair Loss Treatment Products
- American Hairr Loss Association: Treatment
- Saw Palmetto. Penn State Hershey. Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Health Information Library
- Saw Palmetto. Natural Medicines Database. Professional Monograph.
- Saw Palmetto. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs, Botanicals, and Other Products.
- Agbabiaka TB1, Pittler MH, Wider B, Ernst E. "Serenoa repens (saw palmetto): a systematic review of adverse events." Drug Saf. 2009;32(8):637-47.
- Gerber GS1. "Saw palmetto for the treatment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms." J Urol. 2000 May;163(5):1408-12.
- Gordon AE1, Shaughnessy AF. "Saw palmetto for prostate disorders." Am Fam Physician. 2003 Mar 15;67(6):1281-3.
- Morgia G1, Mucciardi G, Galì A, Madonia M, Marchese F, Di Benedetto A, Romano G, Bonvissuto G, Castelli T, Macchione L, Magno C. "Treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome category IIIA with Serenoa repens plus selenium and lycopene (Profluss) versus S. repens alone: an Italian randomized multicenter-controlled study." Urol Int. 2010;84(4):400-6.
- National Institutes of Health. "Saw palmetto: MedlinePlus Supplements." February 2015.
- Prager N1, Bickett K, French N, Marcovici G. "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia." J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr;8(2):143-52.
- Tacklind J1, Macdonald R, Rutks I, Stanke JU, Wilt TJ. "Serenoa repens for benign prostatic hyperplasia." Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Dec 12;12:CD001423.
Writer Bio
A.G. Moody is a multiple award-winning journalist who has been writing professionally since 2000. He has covered everything from business to health issues. His work has appeared in the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" and numerous other newspapers and magazines. Moody earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Eastern Washington University.