Serenoa repens is the medical
name for the herb saw palmetto. The deep red fruit of this small
palm grows wild in warm climates such as those found in the
Southeastern United States.
The liposerolic extract of the fruit of Saw Palmetto is the most
popular herbal supplement for the promotion of prostate health in
Europe.Research has shown that the herb
Saw Palmetto has the same effects as finasteride in treating
patients with benign prostate enlargement. In fact, the herb is very
popular and common in Germany and is available as an
over-the-counter medication. There are many research and studies in
Germany that confirm the effectiveness of Saw Palmetto in treating
patients with prostatic disease.
Studies have shown that saw palmetto is an
effective anti-androgen. It acts in a similar way that propecia
does. Firstly it lowers levels of DHT in the body by Blocking 5
alpha-reductase. Secondly Saw Palmetto block receptor sites on cell
membranes required for cells to absorb DHT. Although no studies have
been carried out on saw palmetto and its relation to hair growth.
Studies have been performed on the use of Saw palmetto in the
treatment of benign prostatic disease which similar to Androgenetic
Alopecia also depends on the production of dihydrotestosterone(DHT).
All of the studies that have been performed to date show that Saw
palmetto is an effective anti-androgen and has shown conclusively to
be effective in the treatment of benign prostate disease.
More and more people around the globe are
starting to use Saw palmetto in the treatment of benign prostatic
hyperplasma and in the treatment of Androgenetic alopecia
One may assume from this that since Saw
palmetto is an effective antiandrogen and is used in the treatment
of prostatic disease then it may also be effective in the treatment
of Androgenetic alopecia.
Some studies have shown that saw palmetto may
have the same effect as the drug finasteride in treating hair loss
and prostate enlargement diseases. It has been suggested that both
hair loss and prostate disease are related to the hormone DHT (Dihydrotestosterone)
which is formed when the enzyme 5-alpha reductase interacts with the
male hormone testosterone.
Finasteride works as an 5-alpha reductase
inhibitor. It reduces the amount of 5-alpha reductase in our body
and thereby reduces the formation of DHT, which is the main cause
for hair loss and prostatic disease. DHT is formed when 5-alpha
reductase interacts with the male hormone testosterone. DHT is a
derivate of testosterone but is many times more potent. Hair
follicles that are sensitive to DHT tend to fall off when exposed to
the hormone.
Finasteride is marketed as Proscar® (5 mg
finasteride) or Propecia (1 mg finasteride) by the Merck & Co. Both
Proscar and Propecia are oral medication and has been approved by
the FDA in the United States. Proscar is usually prescriped for
people with benign prostate enlargement. Propecia was approved by
the FDA in December 1997 as the first ever anti-baldness pill. Both
Proscar and Propecia are available by prescription only.
Since both hair loss and prostatic disease are
related to DHT, many suggest that Saw Palmetto will also be
effective in treating people with hair loss by reducing the amount
of DHT in our body and around the hair follicles. Although there is
no formal study or testing to confirm the effectiveness of Saw
Palmetto in treating hair loss, many companies are already preparing
topical hair lotions that are formulated with Saw Palmetto.
Saw Palmetto and Beta-sitosterol
Study
Natural Treatment for Male Pattern Baldness
7/3/02 - Healthnotes Newswire Those with male
pattern baldness may increase hair growth by taking a preparation
containing saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and beta-sitosterol
(a compound found in many edible plants), according to a new study
in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
(2002;8:143–52).
Male pattern baldness is a hereditary
condition that most often affects men, but may affect women as well.
Hair loss often starts with a receding hairline and continues in a
horseshoe pattern, leaving hair on the sides and back of the head
mostly unaffected. Although the exact reason that such hair loss
occurs is not clear, some studies suggest that excessive conversion
of testosterone to another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
may be an underlying cause.
Conventional medicines used to treat male
pattern baldness are designed to block the conversion of
testosterone to DHT. Topical application of minoxidil (Rogaine®)
and taking oral finasteride (Propecia®) have been shown
to inhibit this conversion and to increase hair growth, but both
medications have been linked with several adverse side effects,
including fast heart rate, headaches, impotence, and decreased
libido. Saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol have been shown to block
the production of DHT in men suffering from enlargement of the
prostate (or benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is also due to
excessive amounts of DHT), but this is the first study to
demonstrate that these compounds also help with hair loss and
without causing significant side effects.
In the new study, 19 men between the ages of
23 and 64 years with mild to moderate hair loss were given either a
placebo or a supplement containing 400 mg of a standardized extract
of saw palmetto and 100 mg of beta-sitosterol per day. After about
five months, hair growth in 60% of the men taking the herbal
combination had improved compared with their initial evaluation. In
contrast, only 11% of those receiving the placebo improved.
Although the number of men in the study was
small and the results were not statistically significant (which
means the improvement may have occurred by chance alone), the
findings are encouraging for millions of men (and possibly women)
with male pattern hair loss and offers a relatively safe alternative
for those who want to take a natural approach to treat this
condition. Larger studies are needed to confirm the benefit of saw
palmetto and beta-sitosterol, as reported in this preliminary study.
In addition, women of childbearing age should not use saw palmetto
without medical supervision because it has not been proven to be
safe during pregnancy and lactation.
At the present time, there is no known cure
for male pattern baldness. Both conventional and natural treatments
can help control the hair loss as long as one maintains the
treatment, though it will often recur once the treatment is
discontinued. Given the safety of saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol,
they seem a reasonable first line of treatment for mild to moderate
male pattern baldness before considering conventional medications.
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