Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)

Overview

Saw Palmetto does not appear to meaningfully improve common urinary symptoms such as frequent urination or discomfort in four studies of Japanese adults taken daily for 12 weeks. Any small changes observed were unlikely to be clinically important or real.

See the evidence reviews below for details on these trials.

Effect graph

Unlock now

Relevant supplements

Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.


Saw Palmetto	★★★★★	Low

Unlock now

Studies

Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.

1 supplement for rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.

Saw PalmettoView supplement →

Reconsider purchase★★★★★

How we scored this

Effect SizeLowEvidenceMediumTrustMedium

Evidence Review

Studies in Japanese adults show that taking saw palmetto every day for 12 weeks does not meaningfully improve common urinary problems like frequent urination or discomfort.
Any small changes seen were not likely to be important or real.

Browse 4 studies

RCTBeneficial effects of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) fruit extract on the urinary symptoms of healthy Japanese adults with possible lower urinary tract symptoms: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study2024n=34

In 66 healthy Japanese adults aged 50+ without BPH over 12 weeks, saw palmetto extract 320 mg/day reduced daytime urinary bother from overactive bladder symptoms versus placebo.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 12 weeks
Dose: 320 mg
Population: Adults
Participants: 34
Ages: 50+

View on PubMed

RCTBeneficial Effects of Saw Palmetto Fruit Extract on Urinary Symptoms in Japanese Female Subjects by a Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study2022

In a 12-week RCT in Japanese women with LUTS, saw palmetto fruit extract reduced daytime frequency and nocturia scores versus placebo, especially in those with urgency symptoms.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 12 weeks
Population: Adults
Ages: 50+

View on PubMed

RCTThe effect of increasing doses of saw palmetto fruit extract on serum prostate specific antigen: analysis of the CAMUS randomized trial2012n=369

In 369 men from the CAMUS trial, escalating saw palmetto to 960 mg/day for 72 weeks did not significantly change serum PSA versus placebo at 24, 48, or 72 weeks.

Effect: No Benefit
Duration: 72 weeks
Dose: 960 mg/day
Population: Men with lower urinary tract symptoms
Participants: 369
Ages: 45+

View on PubMed

RCTRandomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of saw palmetto in men with lower urinary tract symptoms2001n=85

In 85 men with LUTS over 6 months, saw palmetto modestly reduced IPSS versus placebo (16.7 to 12.3 vs 15.8 to 13.6; P=0.038) but did not improve peak flow or sexual function.

Effect: Benefit
Duration: 6 months
Population: Men with lower urinary tract symptoms
Participants: 85
Ages: 45+

View on PubMed

Unlock now

Evidence visualised

Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.

Purchase-guidance distribution

How many supplements fall in each purchase band

Effect-size distribution

How large the reported benefits tend to be

Study distribution across 1 supplements for lower urinary tract symptoms (4 studies total).
Supplement	DEX	Studies	Meta-analyses	Share
Saw Palmetto	★★★★★48%	4	0	100%

Unlock now

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)

Overview

Effect graph

Relevant supplements

Studies

Evidence visualised

On this page