Serenoa Repens: Does It Have Any Role in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia?

January 2009 in “ Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery ”

Sundaram Murugusundram

Serenoa repens 5 alpha reductase inhibitor androgenetic alopecia saw palmetto

Studysummary This article discusses Serenoa repens for androgenetic alopecia and reports no strong evidence of its effectiveness, emphasizing the need for larger clinical trials.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The document discussed the use of Serenoa repens as a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor for treating androgenetic alopecia. Despite its popularity and marketing as a remedy, there was little evidence supporting its effectiveness, highlighting the need for larger clinical trials. Additionally, the use of Serenoa repens as self-medication posed a risk of missing early detection of prostate cancer.

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Research cited in this study

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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

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

65 citations , April 2002 in “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine”

This study found that 60% of men with mild to moderate androgenetic alopecia showed improvement after treatment with botanically derived 5AR inhibitors, suggesting these compounds may be effective, though larger trials are needed.