About the Product
Life Pro Nutrition's Saw Palmetto 160 mg is a dietary supplement in VCAPS vegetable capsules formulated with dry extract of Serenoa repens fruit (dwarf palm, Saw Palmetto) combined with zinc bisglycinate, specifically aimed at supporting prostate health, male hormonal balance, and hair health. Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a dwarf palm native to the southeastern United States whose fruits have been used since Mayan times to support fertility and male health, and are now one of the most studied phytotherapeutic supplements for prostate health, with dozens of controlled clinical trials and multiple systematic reviews. 1 capsule per day, preferably on an empty stomach. 60 vegetable capsules (60 days). Vegan.
Benefits
Serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto): the herbal extract with the strongest clinical evidence base for prostate health and 5-alpha-reductase inhibition:
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a dwarf palm of the genus Serenoa, native to the southeastern coast of the United States (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina). The fruits of Serenoa repens are black-bluish berries rich in long-chain fatty acids (lauric acid, capric acid, myristic acid, oleic acid), phytosterols (beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside, campesterol, stigmasterol) and polysaccharides (arabinogalactans, glucurono-xylans). The main and most documented mechanism of action of Serenoa repens extract is the inhibition of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR, in type 1 and type 2 isoforms), the enzyme responsible for the peripheral conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is an androgen with an affinity for the androgen receptor (AR) about 3 to 10 times higher than that of testosterone, and is the main androgen responsible for the growth and proliferation of prostatic tissue. With aging, the imbalance between estrogens and androgens (in particular the relative increase in DHT compared to free testosterone) stimulates prostatic tissue hyperplasia, resulting in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): prostate enlargement affecting 50% of men over 50 and 90% of men over 80, with symptoms of decreased urinary flow, urinary urgency, nocturia (need to urinate at night) and a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying.
Comparison with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor drugs (finasteride, dutasteride) and the clinical relevance of Saw Palmetto:
Finasteride (Propecia®, Proscar®) and dutasteride (Avodart®) are synthetic 5-AR inhibitor drugs with EMA-approved claims of efficacy in BPH and male androgenic alopecia. Both work by the same mechanism as Saw Palmetto (inhibition of 5-AR and reduction of DHT), but with much higher potency and selectivity: finasteride selectively inhibits 5-AR type 2, while dutasteride inhibits both isoforms (type 1 and 2). Saw Palmetto inhibits both isoforms more gently and with fewer side effects, as the mechanism of action of phytosterols and fatty acids in Serenoa repens in inhibiting 5-AR is non-competitive (unlike the competitive inhibition of drugs), which means it does not suppress DHT as completely and therefore has less risk of androgenic side effects (erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, gynecomastia) that are documented with finasteride and dutasteride. The Cochrane review by Tacklind et al. (2012), with 32 randomized clinical trials and 5666 participants, documented a significant improvement in BPH urinary symptoms with Saw Palmetto compared to placebo, with a modest to moderate effect size and excellent safety profile.
Effects on male androgenic alopecia (male pattern hair loss): the second main mechanism:
In addition to the prostate, DHT is the main androgen responsible for male androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness, AGA), the most common type of hair loss in men. DHT binds to androgen receptors in scalp hair follicles (especially in the frontal and vertex regions, which express higher densities of 5-AR type 2 and AR), triggering progressive miniaturization of the follicles: the follicles produce progressively finer, shorter, and lighter hairs until complete follicular atrophy. By inhibiting 5-AR and reducing DHT available to hair follicles, Saw Palmetto can slow down or attenuate this follicular miniaturization process. A randomized clinical trial by Prager et al. (2002) documented that a topical formulation of Saw Palmetto extract was superior to placebo in improving hair density and quality in men with AGA. Studies with oral Saw Palmetto supplementation also document modest but consistent benefits in reducing hair loss and the perception of hair thickness.
Zinc bisglycinate: the most bioavailable form of zinc with multiple functions supporting male health:
Zinc bisglycinate is the chelated form of zinc with glycine (two glycine amino acids per zinc ion), with documented higher bioavailability than inorganic forms (zinc oxide, zinc sulfate): comparative studies document 43 to 90% greater intestinal absorption of zinc bisglycinate compared to zinc sulfate, with less gastrointestinal irritation. Zinc has multiple relevant functions in the context of this product. It is an essential cofactor of 5-alpha-reductase (zinc is necessary for the enzymatic activity of 5-AR), which creates a direct synergy with Saw Palmetto in DHT regulation: while Saw Palmetto inhibits the enzyme, zinc supports its homeostasis and regulation. In addition, zinc has an approved EFSA claim for "maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood," and zinc deficiency is associated with hypotestosteronemia and deficient spermatogenesis. Zinc is also essential for normal immune function (approved EFSA claim), DNA synthesis and cell division, skin, hair and nail health (approved EFSA claim for contribution to the maintenance of normal hair and nails), and protection of cells from oxidative stress (approved EFSA claim for the antioxidant function of zinc via metalloproteins).
Prostatic anti-inflammatory effect: the mechanism complementary to 5-AR inhibition:
In addition to 5-AR inhibition, the phytosterols and polysaccharides of Saw Palmetto have documented anti-inflammatory activity in prostatic tissue via inhibition of NF-κB (the central transcription factor of pro-inflammatory cytokines) and reduction of pro-inflammatory prostaglandin production (via inhibition of COX-2 and LOX-5). Chronic low-grade inflammation of prostatic tissue is considered a cofactor in BPH progression and a risk factor for chronic prostatitis, and the anti-inflammatory activity of Saw Palmetto can contribute to the improvement of urinary symptoms through a complementary and synergistic mechanism with DHT inhibition.
Immunity stimulation and other documented effects:
The polysaccharides of Serenoa repens (arabinogalactans and glucurono-xylans) have documented immunomodulatory activity: they stimulate macrophage activity, production of Th1 cytokines (interleukin-2, interferon-gamma) and cytotoxic activity of NK (natural killer) lymphocytes, with effects supporting cellular immunity. Furthermore, Saw Palmetto has documented effects on male libido and sexual function: DHT reduction improves the free testosterone/DHT ratio (since testosterone not converted to DHT remains available), and phytosterols have moderate androgenic activity that can contribute to male sexual well-being.
Uses
Recommended dose: Take 1 capsule per day, preferably on an empty stomach (30 to 60 minutes before breakfast). Taking it on an empty stomach maximizes the absorption of fatty acids and phytosterols from the Serenoa repens extract and zinc bisglycinate, whose intestinal absorption pathways are more efficient in the absence of competition with food. The effects of Saw Palmetto on prostate and hair health are cumulative and depend on consistent medium and long-term use: clinical trials document benefits from 4 to 6 weeks of regular use, with progressive improvement up to 3 to 6 months.
