Read our review to find the best prostate supplements with saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol, evidence for using for benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, safety, side effects, drug interactions and more. Find out which ones passed our test and why.
Prostate Supplements (Saw Palmetto and Beta-Sitosterol) Review
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CL Answer I am female and purchased a saw palmetto supplement for hair loss, but the bottle says it is only for men. Is it unsafe for women? Learn more about the safety of saw palmetto in women with hair loss. CL Answer Are there supplements that can reduce prostate size? How to reduce prostate size using supplements for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including beta-sitosterol and saw palmetto. CL Answer Do hair loss supplements, such as Viviscal, Hair La Vie, and Nutrafol, or topical essential oils work? Vitamins and supplements that may help with hair loss and thinning, including saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, protein, iron, and vitamin D. News Release February 23, 2021 ConsumerLab Tests Reveal Best Prostate Supplements With Saw Palmetto and Beta-Sitosterol White Plains, New York, February 23, 2021 — Over half of men over age 60 may experience increased urinary frequency, difficulty urinating, or other symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH. Product Review Breast Enhancement Supplements Review Article Do Breast Enhancement Supplements Really Work? See the Evidence For and Against Breast Enhancement Supplements. Product Review Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review Best Multivitamins -- Caution with Gummies News Release September 19, 2015 ConsumerLab.com Tests Popular Prostate Supplements with Saw Palmetto and Beta-Sitosterol White Plains, New York, September 19, 2015 — Can prostate supplements with ingredients such as saw palmetto or beta-sitosterol improve symptoms of an enlarged prostate, a condition affecting more than half of men over age 60? And, if so, which supplements are properly made and labeled and ... News Release April 26, 2012 ConsumerLab.com reviews prostate supplements with saw palmetto and/or beta-sitosterol and finds few likely to be effective White Plains, New York April 26, 2012 — Can supplements reduce the symptoms of prostate enlargement in men, as some products claim? ConsumerLab.com researchers recently tackled this question, investigating the evidence behind prostate supplements and testing the quality of these products.
Clinical Update
3/20/2018
Saw Palmetto for Prostate?
Saw palmetto extract was once popular for reducing symptoms of prostate enlargement, but studies subsequently failed to find a benefit. A recent study assessed whether it could boost the effectiveness of conventional medical treatment. Get the results in the What It Does section of the Saw Palmetto Supplements Review.
Clinical Update
8/03/2019
Saw Palmetto for Prostate?
A recent clinical study is the latest to evaluate the potential benefit of saw palmetto in reducing symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) in men. Find out what this, and previous studies, have shown in the What It Does section of the Prostate Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol supplements.
Clinical Update
11/09/2021
Saw Palmetto Concern
Does saw palmetto cause sexual dysfunction? Get the details in the updated Concerns and Cautions section of our Prostate Supplements Review.
Clinical Update
11/17/2023
Saw Palmetto for Hair?
Does taking saw palmetto orally or applying it to the scalp help reduce hair shedding in men and women? Find out what a recent study found in the Saw Palmetto section of our Prostate Supplements Review.
Also see our article about supplements and shampoos for hair.
Clinical Update
10/04/2011
Saw Palmetto May Not Work
It's used by many men hoping to reduce urinary symptoms caused by benign growth of the prostate, or BPH, but a new, well-designed study suggests that it doesn't work. Some other recent research suggest the same. Even when doubling and tripling the standard dose, the high-quality saw palmetto extract used in the new study failed to provide benefit.
What should you do? You may want to consider a different supplement -- beta-sitosterol, a phytosterol. The evidence remains fairly good for beta-sitosterol. To find out more about saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, and the supplements we have tested, see the Prostate Supplements Review.More >>
Clinical Update
5/06/2017
Trouble Reported With Saw Palmetto
A 64 year-old man developed pancreatitis and heart block (dangerously slow heart rate) after supplementing with saw palmetto, according to a recent report. For details, see the "Cautions and Concerns" section of the Prostate Supplements Review >>
Clinical Update
7/25/2023
Saw Palmetto Side Effects
What are the most commonly reported side effects with saw palmetto use? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Prostate Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks among prostate supplements.
Clinical Update
2/10/2025
Saw Palmetto for BPH?
Did taking saw palmetto improve urinary symptoms among men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a recent study? Find out in the What It Does section of our Prostate Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick among prostate supplements.
Clinical Update
1/08/2012
B-12 and Folic Acid for Memory
Small but significant improvements in short and long-term memory were found to occur in older people (aged 60 to 74) given modest daily amounts of vitamin B-12 and folic acid. But don't expect immediate results. Improvements were seen only after 2 years of supplementation. See the update in the B Vitamins Review for the dosage used, as well as our ratings of supplements with vitamin B-12 and folic acid.
Clinical Update
1/11/2011
Insulin Sensitivity and Magnesium
A recent study found that magnesium supplementation improved fasting glucose levels in insulin insensitive, obese people. While a similar effect has been seen in magnesium deficient people, the new study found benefit in people who had normal magnesium levels. The research suggests that magnesium may help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in some people. See the Magnesium Supplements Review for the type and dose of magnesium used andmore >>
Clinical Update
7/05/2014
Dark Chocolate Improves Walking in Peripheral Artery Disease
A new, small study found that people with peripheral artery disease who consumed dark chocolate with a high cocoa content were able to walk further than they normally could. Consuming milk chocolate did not have this effect. The improvement was seen shortly after consuming just one dose. For more details, including dosage, as well as our tests and comparisons of cocoa supplements and chocolate, see the update to the Cocoa Powders, Extracts and Chocolate (Sources of Flavanols) Review >>
Clinical Update
7/04/2015
Fish Oil and Alzheimer's Disease
The evidence is mixed on whether fish oil can help people with Alzheimer's disease. A benefit was seen in a study reported last year, but a recently reported study found no benefit with fish oil combined with antioxidants. More details are found in the "What It Does" section of theFish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Review >>
Clinical Update
11/07/2015
Triglyceride-Lowering with a Probiotic
Studies with probiotics have demonstrated modest lowering of LDL ("bad") cholesterol, but the evidence has been mixed regarding triglycerides. A recent study in which a probiotic was added to a kefir drink showed a 17% reduction in triglycerides along with a modest reduction in LDL — effects not seen with the kefir alone. Details are found in theProbiotics and Kefirs Review >>
Clinical Update
7/16/2014
Fish Oil May Prevent Cognitive Decline
A study of older individuals found that cognitive function and brain volume (size) were better preserved among those who reported using fish oil supplements than those who did not. The effect, however, was only seen in certain groups of people. For more about the study, and our tests and comparisons of fish oil supplements, see the updated Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Review (Including Krill, Algae, Calamari, Green-lipped Mussel Oil) >>
Clinical Update
3/17/2018
High-Dose Vitamin D & Cholesterol
Giving high-dose vitamin D to people who are not deficient in it may backfire and increase cholesterol levels, as seen in a recent study. Get the details in the Concerns and Cautions section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks among products).
Clinical Update
6/29/2019
Fish Oil Heart Claim
You'll start seeing a new heart health claim on fish oil supplements as well as foods that provide the omega-3's EPA and DHA. While legal, the claim is a bit fishy. Get the details in the Fish Oil Supplements Review as well as the Canned Tuna and Salmon Review. Also see our Top Picks for fish oil supplements and canned fish.
Clinical Update
4/12/2022
Zinc Rash
Zinc supplementation can trigger an allergic skin rash in some people, as seen in a recent case report. Get the details in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Zinc Supplements Review.
Clinical Update
6/10/2022
Supplements for Farsightedness?
Can a supplement improve vision in older people who develop trouble seeing up-close (i.e., presbyopia or age-related farsightedness)? See the study results for a supplement that included lutein, astaxanthin, bilberry and DHA in our Vision Supplements Review.
Clinical Update
2/24/2023
Gallstones & Curcumin
Be aware that taking curcumin may increase the pain of passing a gallstone and, as seen in a recent case, increase the risk of gallbladder perforation. Get the details, and learn about other potential adverse effects of curcumin in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Turmeric and Curcumin Supplements Review.
Also see how coffee and supplements affect gallstones.
Clinical Update
3/21/2023
Kratom Interactions
Be aware the kratom can interact with prescription medications, as was seen in a recent study. For details, see our article about kratom.
Clinical Update
3/19/2024
Beetroot Juice Better for Some Than Others?
Beetroot juice may improve exercise capacity for some people, but the benefit appears to be different between women and men, as seen in a recent study. Find out more in our article about beetroot juice and supplements.
Clinical Update
7/29/2024
Calories in Glycine?
A CL Member reported seeing the sweetener glycine promoted as containing no calories. They asked if this is true. It's not. Find out how manufacturers can get away with this in our article about sugar substitutes, which includes our Top Picks among sugar substitutes.
Clinical Update
8/25/2013
Antioxidants: Too Much of a Good Thing?
A new, long-term study of Americans found the risk of dying over the course of the study (about 14 years) was lowest when antioxidant levels in the blood were above the lowest levels (the bottom 20% of the population). However, for people in the top 20% of blood levels for vitamins A and E, the risk of death increased compared to people with moderate levels. For selenium and beta-carotene, there was no significant difference in the death rate between moderate and high levels, although for vitamin C some additional benefit was seen at high, but not the highest, levels.
The results suggest that antioxidant supplements may be useful for those who are nutritionally deficient, but, as noted by the researchers, "beyond a certain threshold, higher levels do not lead to additional benefit, and may potentially be toxic." More details (including specific serum levels) are found in the linked updates to the following reviews, which include our test results and quality ratings of products:
Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene Supplements Review >>
Vitamin C Supplements Review >>
Vitamin E Supplements Review >>
Selenium Supplements Review >>
Clinical Update
1/13/2013
Vitamin D and Knee Arthritis?
Can taking vitamin D reduce the pain and progression of osteoarthritis of the knee? A new study found no benefit for people who already had sufficient levels of vitamin D. In fact, these people needed more anti-inflammatory medication during the study than those given placebo. However, as seen in many other studies of vitamin D, people who entered the study deficient in vitamin D appeared to benefit from being given vitamin D, experiencing reduced pain. For more details, see the update in the Vitamin D Supplements Review, which includes our tests of vitamin D supplements. If you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee or other joints, also read about glucosamine and chondroitin, as supplements with these ingredients may help. We have tested many of these products.
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