Although I’ve been aware of the many European studies that have shown saw palmetto berry supports prostate health, particularly when men are suffering uncomfortable symptoms of prostate enlargement, most American urologists have waited for clinical trials in this country to be completed.
Now, the first American randomized clinical trial of saw palmetto shows that this natural medicine clearly helps reduce swelling in enlarged benign prostate tissue.
The study was published in the March 1999 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Urology, followed by a presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association in Dallas, Texas from May 1-6, 1999. The study was also chosen from among 1500 others as the feature article in the June issue of Urology Times, a leading magazine for urologists.
Shown to Work with
Clinical Trials ‘Gold Standard’
M any studies on men’s prostate health
utilize primarily subjective assessments. Male study participants
are often asked to subjectively rate their urine flow, dribbling,
hesitancy, number of times they awaken in the night to urinate,
as well as being asked to make other subjective evaluations of
the study medication.
While
subjective assessments are an excellent method for evaluating
drugs and natural medicines intended to support men’s prostate
health and for other conditions, when such subjective evaluations
are combined with objective measurements (such as urine flow volume
and prostate size), that is the real gold standard for assessing
men’s prostate health formulas. That is what we now have with
the saw palmetto-based Prostsafe formula.
During
the six-month double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers
randomly assigned 44 men to take either saw palmetto or placebo
daily. The herbal treatment led to a modest reduction in symptoms,
such as difficult urination, incomplete emptying of the bladder,
and frequent urge to urinate.
The
most novel finding in the study, however, was saw palmetto berry’s
effect on prostate swelling which improved to a statistically
significant degree.
Using
two different tests (prostate MRI and ultrasound-guided biopsy),
researchers concluded that the most marked effects were on the
epithelial tissue, especially in the inner part of the prostate.
A Safe Alternative
Researchers
have not determined exactly how the saw palmetto berry works
on the prostate gland. However, these studies show saw palmetto
extract to be an excellent natural alternative for men who have
tried conventional therapies and experienced side effects such
as a decline in sex drive and performance.
According
to Dr. Leonard Marks, the study's lead investigator and clinical
associate professor in the Department of Urology with the University
of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, "The 21 participants
who supplemented their diet with saw palmetto were satisfied with
the results. In fact, 19 elected to continue supplementing after
the study concluded. I believe urologists may now consider saw
palmetto a viable, natural, alternative treatment for many men
with BPH."
The Next
Step
M ake no
mistake. Saw palmetto is fantastic. But what I’ve also
been saying is that saw palmetto’s benefits can be enhanced when
men use a comprehensive approach to prostate health.
For
this reason, there are several other nutrients in the Prostsafe
formula men should know about.
Zinc
is clearly essential to men’s prostate health. Often, I tell my
patients that if they are going to snack to do so on pumpkin
seeds which are a rich source of zinc. Zinc is also essential
to maintain healthy prostate cell reproduction.
For
superb urinary control, I like my patients to use a combination
of three amino acids. Alanine, glycine and glutamic
acid are very popular throughout Japan because of their excellent
efficacy in relieving the most uncomfortable symptoms of enlarged
prostate.
Prostsafe’s synergistic blend
of herbal medicines and nutrients has worked with so many of my
patients that it is my number one men’s health formula today.
I want all of my men patients to use this formula. Turn to the
center of this journal for more information on ordering this product.
