[Lotus]

SP#1 (Please contribute related findings) Please Remenber, theory is available on SP#2 http://www.breastnexus.com/showthread.php?tid=17713

This list is w/o theory, it's purpose is to convey the research that's been published, Another thread will be created for theory.
____________________________________________________________________
Favoring

Saw Palmetto-Saw palmetto's primary therapeutic action is to inhibit the conversion of testosterone to DHT in the prostate, as well as inhibiting the binding and transport of DHT. In contrast, recent studies have shown that saw palmetto may in fact have antiestrogenic activity. Estrogen facilitates BPH because it interferes with the hydroxylation and elimination of DHT from the prostate.

-Saw palmetto seems to decrease estrogen levels in the body. Taking saw palmetto
along with estrogen pills might decrease the effectiveness of estrogen pills.
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/pharmacologi...inhibitors

-EFFECT ON ESTROGEN RECEPTORS
The plant steroids in saw palmetto also act on progesterone receptors, an action that causes a reduction in estrogen levels, Preliminary research has found that saw palmetto hinders the conversion process of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone by more than 40 percent.
DOSAGE RECOMMENDATION
The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests consuming saw palmetto in standardized capsule form. While this herb can be taken as a tea, its primary active compounds are not water-soluble, so they may not be transferred from the herb into the water. Consume 160 mg of saw palmetto up to two times per day. Make sure the supplement contains 85 to 95 percent fatty acids and sterols.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/543983...-estrogen/

-Women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), have abnormally higher levels of testosterone, than the normal levels. Saw palmetto berries help in treating PCOS. It reportedly also has anti-estrogenic effect and counters high estrogen levels. Another benefit is that it helps in alleviating hirsutism (i.e. growth of too much hair on the face, etc.), which is a common symptom associated with PCOS. 

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-An open label, dose response study to determine the effect of a dietary supplement on dihydrotestosterone, testosterone and estradiol levels in healthy males.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18700016

Neutral


-The formation of estradiol from testosterone was significantly greater in rats fed a zinc-deficient diet than in freely fed rats. The researchers concluded that zinc deficiency reduces circulating testosterone concentrations, alters hepatic steroid metabolism, and may increase circulating estradiol concentrations

-Saw palmetto has no known drug interactions, and reported side effects are minor and rare.5,12,19,20 However, some health care practitioners have noted that high doses of saw palmetto may lead to a loss of libido in both men and women.
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/jan2007_aas_01.htm

-Studies aimed at pinpointing the mechanism of action are inconclusive. However, the overall clinical efficacy of Serenoa extract shows promise despite some concerns published recently regarding length of therapy (usually no more than 3 months), and problems with the inclusion/exclusion criteria and lack of uniform symptom score analysis.27,28
http://legacy.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/Alte/ACF2F98.cfm&pub_id=8&article_id=87

-A dietary supplement containing astaxanthin and saw palmetto berry extract decrease dihydrotestosterone, increase testosterone and decrease estradiol levels in healthy males.
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/diet...t-decrease


Opposing

Birth control pills (Contraceptive drugs)
Some birth control pills contain estrogen. Saw palmetto might decrease the effects of estrogen in the body. Taking saw palmetto along with birth control pills might decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you take birth control pills along with saw palmetto, use an additional form of birth control such as a condom.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugi...l/971.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/saw_palmetto-...tamins.htm
http://www.rxlist.com/saw_palmetto-page3...ements.htm
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/saw_palme...ements.htm

-In short, there is no scientific evidence to prove the efficacy of saw palmetto. But, there are many users who are satisfied with the results of using this herb. There are some reports of saw palmetto side effects in men and women. So it is always better to consult a qualified herbal practitioner and take this herb as per his instructions. 



-Treating prostate infections and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Saw palmetto doesn’t seem to help prostate infections or chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
Prostate cancer. Research studies to date have found that taking saw palmetto doesn’t seem to prevent prostate cancer.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugi...l/971.html

The plant steroids in saw palmetto also act on progesterone receptors, an action that causes a reduction in estrogen levels. According to the results of a large international trial published in the "Journal of Clinical Oncology" in April 2011, estrogen and progesterone receptor status is a predictive marker of early breast cancer and post-treatment relapse.
http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthr...z2rExiZdx7

[Lotus]

2 more for the against: See thread SP#2 w/ Theory http://www.breastnexus.com/showthread.php?tid=17713

Another study, sponsored by Merck, the manufacturer of both Proscar and
Propecia, evaluated the ability of Saw Palmetto to improve BPH (prostate enlargement) symptoms and lower serum levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) compared to finasteride(Proscar/Propecia).

Not surprisingly, Saw Palmetto came out the big loser, as it showed no effect whatsoever on BPH symptoms and no effect on serum DHT levels, while finasteride dropped DHT by 65%.
http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateS...a8-07.html

Two of the largest double-blind clinical trials on Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) extracts for treatment of symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have both shown negative results (Barry, et al. 2011; Bent, et al. 2006).
http://www.dryarnell.com/?cat=34

[peggy]

2 more for the against: See thread SP#2 w/ Theory http://www.breastnexus.com/showthread.php?tid=17713

Another study, sponsored by Merck, the manufacturer of both Proscar and
Propecia, evaluated the ability of Saw Palmetto to improve BPH (prostate enlargement) symptoms and lower serum levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) compared to finasteride(Proscar/Propecia).

Not surprisingly, Saw Palmetto came out the big loser, as it showed no effect whatsoever on BPH symptoms and no effect on serum DHT levels, while finasteride dropped DHT by 65%.
http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateS...a8-07.html

Two of the largest double-blind clinical trials on Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) extracts for treatment of symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have both shown negative results (Barry, et al. 2011; Bent, et al. 2006).
http://www.dryarnell.com/?cat=34

Hi Lotus,

thanks for the interesting thread. I started taking saw palmetto tincture a few days ago. I have read many positive reviews that it helps with acne and can make the boobies bigger. Will keep you updated.

http://www.soulcysters.net/showthread.ph...th-etc-%29

http://www.soulcysters.net/showthread.ph...er-breasts

[Lotus]

Thanks and good luck Peggy!

[Scotti]

2 more for the against:

Reading both of those articles, they both seem to me come back and contradict the findings of the studies. I'd be especially leery of ANY study conducted by an interested party (as was the case in the first article).

From the first article...

Despite this negative result in a company sponsored study, subsequent studies showed Saw Palmetto to be at least as effective, and often superior to finasteride in its ability to mitigate the symptoms of BPH.

So what gives??

The significant part of the answer lies in one of its identified mechanisms of action. There is a common and erroneous perception that Saw Palmetto and Propecia work the same way.

Saw Palmetto, unlike finasteride (Proscar/Propecia), does not function as a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor that results in lower serum DHT (at least according to Merck). It works instead by reducing the uptake of DHT at the receptor sites by a factor of 40%.

Another erroneous perception is that Saw Palmetto somehow only inhibits androgen binding in Prostatic tissue, and somehow leaves other sites in the body unaffected. The following study shows a reduction of DHT in all tissue specimens evaluated.

From the second article...

There is one very serious flaw with both of these studies though, one which in my opinion should have precluded their being funded or published in such prestigious journals. Both used only a placebo control. In light of the existence of two classes of medications that are approved by regulatory agencies for treatment of BPH symptoms and are therefore supposedly effective for that condition, why not have a control group taking some kind of active medication?

[Lotus]

Hi Scotti,

Like the article said "not surprising", which it isn't when you have deep pockets and want to squash the competition, there were several other articles listed besides the 2 for your reading pleasure!

Thanks for the input!