Natural Hair Supplement: Friend or Foe? Saw Palmetto, a Systematic Review in Alopecia
January 2020
in “Skin appendage disorders”
TLDR Saw palmetto supplements may modestly improve hair regrowth with few side effects, but more research is needed.
The document is a systematic review of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of saw palmetto (SP) supplements in treating alopecia, focusing on androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and telogen effluvium (TE). It includes five randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and two prospective cohort studies, totaling 381 patients. The review found that SP supplements led to a 60% improvement in overall hair quality, a 27% increase in total hair count, an 83.3% increase in hair density, and stabilized disease progression in 52% of patients. No serious adverse events were reported, although mild gastrointestinal issues were common, and there were some concerns about hormonal effects such as early menarche. The review concludes that SP may offer modest improvements in hair regrowth, but the evidence is limited by methodological flaws such as small sample sizes and the inclusion of other active ingredients in the supplements. Further high-quality RCTs are necessary to confirm SP's efficacy and determine long-term safety.
View this study on karger.com →
Cited in this study
research Treatment of male androgenetic alopecia with topical products containingSerenoa repensextract
Serenoa repens extract in topical products improves hair growth and appearance in male pattern baldness with mild side-effects.
research Serenoa repens as an Endocrine Disruptor in a 10-Year-Old Young Girl: A New Case Report
Serenoa repens may cause early puberty and should be used cautiously in children.
research Hair loss and herbs for treatment
Herbs can potentially treat hair loss by inhibiting a key enzyme and promoting hair growth, and deficiencies in zinc, biotin, and iron are linked to hair loss.
research Hot Flashes in a Young Girl: A Wake-up Call Concerning Serenoa repens Use in Children
Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) may cause side effects like hot flashes in children and needs more research for safety in pediatric use.
research Comparitive Effectiveness and Finasteride Vs Serenoa Repens in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Two-Year Study
Finasteride works better than Serenoa repens for male hair loss.
research Clinical severity does not reliably predict quality of life in women with alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, or androgenic alopecia
How bad a woman's hair loss is doesn't always match how it affects her happiness and daily life.
research Inhibition of Inflammatory Gene Expression in Keratinocytes Using a Composition Containing Carnitine, Thioctic Acid and Saw Palmetto Extract
The composition with carnitine, thioctic acid, and saw palmetto extract may effectively reduce inflammation in hair follicle cells.
research Serenoa repens: Does it have any role in the management of androgenetic alopecia?
research Medical treatments for male and female pattern hair loss
Minoxidil and finasteride treat hair loss in men, while minoxidil treats hair loss in women.
research Psychological aspects of hair disease
Men with hair loss may have lower self-esteem and could benefit from treatment and psychological support.
research Sensitization to saw palmetto and minoxidil in separate topical extemporaneous treatments for androgenetic alopecia
Saw palmetto causes allergic reaction, minoxidil causes skin irritation; use cautiously for hair loss.
research 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
Plant extracts effectively reduce hair loss and increase growth, offering a safe alternative treatment.
research Comparison of Finasteride (Proscar®) and Serenoa repens (Permixon®) in the Inhibition of 5-Alpha Reductase in Healthy Male Volunteers
Finasteride works better than Permixon in reducing dihydrotestosterone levels.
Related
research Hair loss (alopecia or baldness)
Baldness is often hereditary and linked to male hormones, becoming noticeable when half the hair is lost.
research Treatments of hereditary hair loss (alopecia)
Some treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and surgery can help with hereditary hair loss.
research GainmoreTM M: An oral supplementation in men with Androgenic Alopecia for reduction in hair loss & new hair growth
Using body measurements can help achieve good results in plastic surgery like reshaping the torso, but it doesn't work for all body types.
research Hair Disorders Associated with Anticancer Agents
Some cancer treatments cause different types of hair loss, but scalp cooling can help prevent it.
research [Effectiveness of the treatment plan for androgenetic alopecia].
research Treatment of Hair Loss
Finasteride and minoxidil are effective for hair loss, but continued research is needed for better treatments.