This review concludes that global literature supports the lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens as efficacious and safe for treating lower urinary tract symptoms, with some studies showing equivalence to common pharmacologic agents.
22 citations
,
March 2000 in “Clinics in Dermatology”
This study developed a method using HPLC with UV-DAD and ESI-MS detection to identify prohibited substances like minoxidil and hormones in cosmetic products advertised online for hair loss and skin conditions.
The conversation discusses the effectiveness of a "Hair growth complex" pill, with skepticism about its ingredients like sawpalmetto and anagain. Users suggest sawpalmetto may help slightly with DHT-related hair loss, but it's less effective than finasteride or dutasteride.
A user started taking 1mg finasteride for hair loss and plans to follow a thrice-weekly dosing schedule recommended by two doctors. They previously used sawpalmetto without issues and are hopeful finasteride won't cause sexual side effects.
Sawpalmetto can help reduce DHT levels and may work in combination with other supplements like beta sitosterol and pygume, but it's less effective than finasteride. Additional treatments like pumpkin seed extract, zinc, biotin, essential oils, scalp massages, and micro-needling can support hair health, but should not replace existing treatments like finasteride.
A person experienced hair regrowth after reducing testosterone levels and using sawpalmetto tincture and Alpecin shampoo. Other users suggested treatments like Nizoral shampoo, Aldactone, and supplements for hair loss.
Stopping sawpalmetto and rosemary oil led to significant hair loss for a long-term finasteride user. Resuming sawpalmetto caused side effects, and there is debate about its effectiveness and the potential impact of oxycodone on hair loss.
Is it better to take sawpalmetto in capsules or use it in lotions?The evidence does not show one form is better: the only head-to-head hair study of oral saw palmetto compared it with finasteride (and finasteride did better), the topical evidence is a single uncontrolled pilot, and there is no trial comparing capsules with lotions.