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Saw palmetto, green tea, lycopene and curcumin capsules for men’s urinary comfort
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Saw palmetto: What It Is, What the Evidence Shows and How to Choose a Supplement
Serenoa repens · Also known as Serenoa, dwarf palm berry
BioMedic Africa Editorial Desk
Published 29 August 2026 · Last updated 29 August 2026 ·
Editorial policy
Saw palmetto is the most widely used botanical in prostate supplements worldwide. Its research record is unusually large for a herb, and unusually contested — which is exactly why it deserves a careful read.
What is saw palmetto?
Saw palmetto is the fruit of Serenoa repens, a small palm native to the south-eastern United States. Supplements use a lipidosterolic extract of the berry.
The extract concentrates fatty acids and sterols; standardisation is usually expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids, commonly 85–95 %.
Traditional and regional use
Saw palmetto is not an African plant and has no local traditional use. It reaches the region as an imported extract in men’s health formulas.
What does the research say?
Evidence, not endorsement. What follows describes published research about the ingredient. It is not a claim about any specific product, and no supplement containing this ingredient may claim to treat a disease.
Saw palmetto has been studied in numerous randomised trials for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic enlargement.
Large, well-designed trials and Cochrane reviews have generally found no significant benefit over placebo for urinary symptom scores, while some studies of specific hexane extracts report different results.
This is a case where a very popular ingredient has a weaker evidence base than its market share implies.
How is it used in supplements?
Saw palmetto anchors most prostate formulas, usually alongside pumpkin seed oil, nettle root, lycopene, zinc and selenium.
Forms and sources
- Lipidosterolic extract softgels (85–95 % fatty acids)
- Dried berry powder capsules
- Combination prostate complexes
Safety
- Generally well tolerated in trials over periods of months.
- Mild digestive effects are the most common complaint.
- It should never delay assessment of urinary symptoms by a doctor.
Possible side effects
Stomach discomfort, nausea, headache. Rare reports of liver and pancreatic effects exist.
Interactions
Possible additive effects with anticoagulants; may theoretically interact with hormonal medicines. It can also affect PSA test interpretation, which your doctor needs to know.
Who should seek professional advice
Any man over 45 with urinary symptoms should be assessed medically first. Anyone due a PSA test should mention saw palmetto use.
How to choose a supplement containing saw palmetto
- Check the extract type and fatty acid standardisation, not just milligrams of "saw palmetto".
- Dried berry powder is not equivalent to a lipidosterolic extract.
- Look for products that state the daily dose in a form comparable with published trials.
Products containing saw palmetto
Products documented in African markets whose supplier material names this ingredient.
Supplement categories using this ingredient
Related health topics
Frequently asked questions
Does saw palmetto shrink the prostate?
No supplement should claim that. Trials have measured urinary symptom scores rather than gland size, and the largest ones found no significant benefit over placebo.
Can it affect a PSA test?
Tell your doctor you take it. Some prostate ingredients can influence how results are interpreted, and your clinician needs the full picture.
Related ingredients
References
Medical disclaimer. BioMedic Africa publishes consumer health information and supplement research summaries. It is not a pharmacy, a clinic or a medicines regulator, and nothing here is a diagnosis, a prescription or a treatment plan. Dietary supplements are foods, not medicines: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with a pharmacist or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, living with a long-term condition, or taking prescription medication.