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Find the Best Prostate Supplement for Symptoms of BPH. See Which Prostate Supplement Passed or Failed CL's Tests of Quality.
Latest Update
Prostate Supplement Adverse Events
Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Updated February 05, 2024 ⓘ Published February 23, 2021
Summary
Which supplements are used to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate?
Two popular supplements for treating the urinary symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) are saw palmetto berry extract and beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol is a plant sterol (or phytosterol) found in very small amounts in saw palmetto and more commonly obtained from other plant sources (see What It Is).What are the health benefits of saw palmetto and what is the right dose?
Well-controlled clinical trials report little to no benefit with saw palmetto in reducing symptoms of BPH, such a urinary frequency (see Saw Palmetto — What It Does). A typical dose is 320 mg per day of extract standardized to 85% to 95% fatty acids (see Saw Palmetto — What to Consider When Buying).
What are the health benefits of beta-sitosterol and what is the right dose?
Beta-sitosterol has been found in most, but not all studies, to significantly improve perceived symptoms of BPH and urine rate flow (see Beta-Sitosterol — What It Does). Doses used in clinical studies range from 30 mg to 91 mg daily. At a much higher dosage, beta-sitosterol can also lower cholesterol levels (see Beta-Sitosterol — What to Consider When Buying).What did CL's tests of prostate supplements find?
ConsumerLab.com's tests identified a number of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol supplements that contained the generally recommended amounts of these ingredients. However, CL discovered that one saw palmetto supplement had none of the key expected marker compound for saw palmetto (see What CL Found).Which prostate supplements are the best?
Among all of the prostate supplements approved for their quality in this Review, ConsumerLab chose a Top Pick for providing a proper dose of beta-sitosterol for treating symptoms of BPH at a reasonable price.Although not tested in this Review, we reviewed the evidence regarding a popular prostate formula, Prostadine.
How safe are prostate supplements made with saw palmetto and/or beta-sitosterol?
Saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol are generally well tolerated, although some individuals may also experience nausea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Rarely, erectile dysfunction and loss of libido have been reported with use of beta-sitosterol (seeConcerns and Cautions). Be sure to check with a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis before using, since symptoms of enlarged prostate may signal more serious conditions, such as prostate cancer, that require prompt medical treatment (see Concerns and Cautions).
+— 31 sources
In addition the results of its expert testing, ConsumerLab uses only high-quality, evidence based, information sources. These sources include peer-reviewed studies and information from agencies such as the FDA and USDA, and the National Academy of Medicine. On evolving topics, studies from pre-print journals may be sourced. All of our content is reviewed by medical doctors and doctoral-level experts in pharmacology, toxicology, and chemistry. We continually update and medically review our information to keep our content trustworthy, accurate, and reliable. The following sources are referenced in this article:
- Barry, JAMA 2011
- Ye, Urology 2019
- Boeri, Sci Reports 2018
- Hizli, Int Urol Nephrol 2007
- Tuncel, Scan J Urol Nephrol 2009
- Sudeep, Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2023
- Prager, J Alt Comp Med 2002
- Rossi, Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2012
- Berges, Br J Urol 2000
- Hong, Nutr Res Pract 2009
- Nishimura, J Tradit Complement Med 2014
- Vahlensieck, Urol Int 2015
- Kim, Nutr Res Pract 2012
- Penugonda, Nutrients 2013
- FDA Guidance for Industry 1999
- Mishra, Indian J Crit Care Med 2013
- Klippel, Br J Urol 1997
- Li, Innov Pharm 2023
- Felton, Consumer Reports 2020
- Ishani, Am J Med 2000
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- Lagiou, Urology 1999
- Leitzmann, J Natl Cancer Inst 2003
- Bent, N Eng J Med 2006
- Crescioli, Phytother Res 2023
- Cheema, J Int Med 2001
- Jipescu, J Am Coll Cardiol 2017
- Wilt, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 1999
- Berges, Lancet 1995
- Gogoi, J Nat Prod 2018
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Make sure you're choosing the best prostate supplements approved in our tests!
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Saw palmetto and beta-sitosterolsupplementscompared in this review
Life Extension Ultra Prostate Formula
Nature's Answer Saw Palmetto Extract
NOW Clinical Strength Prostate Health
ProstaGenix Multiphase Prostate Support Compound
Pure Encapsulations Beta-sitosterol
Puritan's Pride Saw Palmetto
Real Health Prostate Complete
Rexall Saw Palmetto 320 mg
Super Beta Prostate Advanced
Teraputics ProstatePro
Trunature Prostate Plus Health Complex
In this comprehensive review of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterolsupplements for prostate health, you'll get test results and comparisonsfor 16 supplements (including seven that passed our voluntary Quality Certification Program). You'll also find out about two products which are similar to one of the products we tested. You'll learn:
- Which saw palmetto and beta-sitosterolsupplements passed or failed ConsumerLab.com's testing and review
- What saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol can and cannot do for your health
- Which otheringredients in prostate formulas (such as Pygeum, pumpkin seed,nettle, selenium, and zinc) may or may not be helpful
- The dosages of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol used in treating prostate enlargement
- Potential side-effects of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol
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Latest Clinical Research Updates for Prostate Supplements (Saw Palmetto and Beta-Sitosterol)
Prostate Supplement Adverse Events
February 06, 2024
A popular prostate supplement has been associated with more than 1,000 cases of adverse events, particularly reports of blood in the urine, according to a recent review. Get the details in our Prostate Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick among prostate supplements.
Saw Palmetto for Hair?
November 17, 2023
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.
Saw Palmetto Side Effects
July 25, 2023
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.
Prostadine for Prostate & Urinary Health?
May 09, 2023
Prostadine is a supplement that claims to support prostate health and bladder control, but does it really work? Find out in our Prostate Supplements Review, which includes our Top Pick among prostate supplements.
Also see our article about supplements to reduce nighttime urination.
Beta-sitosterol & Bleeding Risk?
June 24, 2022
Does taking beta-sitosterol increase bleeding risk? Find out in the Concerns and Cautions section of our Prostate Supplements Review.
Caution With Stinging Nettle
January 04, 2022
Stinging nettle is promoted to reduce seasonal allergies and is a common ingredient in prostate supplements. Rarely, however, it may cause breast changes in both men and women, as was recently reported. Get the details in our updated article about Supplements for Seasonal Allergies. Also see the Concerns and Cautions section of our Prostate Supplements Review.
Saw Palmetto Concern
November 09, 2021
Does saw palmetto cause sexual dysfunction? Get the details in the updated Concerns and Cautions section of our Prostate Supplements Review.
Saw Palmetto for Prostate?
August 03, 2019
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.
Saw Palmetto for Prostate?
March 20, 2018
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.
Trouble Reported With Saw Palmetto
May 06, 2017
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 >>
Men's Health Supplements Don't Help Prostate Cancer
October 21, 2015
While there is some evidence that certain supplements may help relieve symptoms of prostate enlargement (BPH), a recent study shows no benefit with regard to prostate cancer treatment. Details are in the Prostate Supplements Review >>
Saw Palmetto May Not Work
October 04, 2011
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 >>
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Additional Information
Tested through CL's Quality Certification Program prior to, or after initial posting of this Product Review.
The "Updated" date indicates when new clinical or product information was most recently added. In the full review (available to CL members), the newest information is highlighted in yellow and, if a new product is added, it is footnoted in the results table, showing the date added to the review.
