Saw palmetto and prostate
What 4 graded rows on saw palmetto agree on for prostate, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Saw palmetto page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Saw palmetto page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Saw palmetto and prostate
4 rows · 5,550 peopleMostly no difference: 3 of 4 rows, and most of the people. 1 found an improvement.
- CGrade C× 1
- ∅No effect× 3
- Rows
- 4
- Trials
- 30
- People
- 5,550
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 300 people (2026) and found an improvement. 3 rows are graded No effect, our grade for adequately powered trials that found no effect.
Only the 3 rows that found no difference include pooled reviews of several trials (1 of 3); the row that found an improvement is a single study.
Only the 3 rows that found no difference name older adults in their population.
The row that found an improvement is newer (2026) than the 3 rows that found no difference (2006 to 2023).
The rows
1 improved · 3 no difference- ∅No effectUrinary symptoms from benign prostatic enlargement · No difference
Systematic review, 27 studies · n 4,656 · 2023 · Men, mostly over 50, with moderate lower urinary tract symptoms; 27 trials
Varied; most commonly 320 mg/day · 3–17 months
Little to no difference vs placebo in IPSS symptom scores at 3–6 months (MD −0.90 points on a 0–35 scale, high certainty) and at 12–17 months (MD 0.07), and in quality of life. Adverse events similar to placebo.
Row on the Saw palmetto page · PubMed 37345871 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectLower urinary tract symptoms at increasing doses · No difference
RCT · n 369 · 2011 · Men 45 or older with AUA symptom scores of 8–24
320, then 640, then 960 mg/day (raised at 24 and 48 weeks) · 72 weeks
Symptom scores fell 2.20 points with saw palmetto and 2.99 points with placebo; no secondary outcome favoured saw palmetto. No clearly attributable adverse effects.
Row on the Saw palmetto page · PubMed 21954478 (opens PubMed)
- ∅No effectProstate symptoms and urine flow · No difference
RCT · n 225 · 2006 · Men over 49 with moderate-to-severe BPH symptoms
160 mg twice daily (320 mg/day) · 1 year
No difference vs placebo in AUA symptom score, peak urine flow, prostate size, residual volume, quality of life or PSA. Side-effect rates were similar.
Row on the Saw palmetto page · PubMed 16467543 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CUrinary symptoms when added to alfuzosin · Improved
RCT · n 300 · 2026 · Treatment-naive men with moderate-to-severe urinary symptoms and prostate volume over 30 cc (multicentre, Italy)
320 mg/day plus alfuzosin 10 mg/day · 12 months
Symptom scores improved in both arms and were consistently lower with the combination than with alfuzosin alone (time-by-treatment p = 0.007), with mild extra gains in urine flow and night-time urination from month 3. Sexual function was similar.
Row on the Saw palmetto page · PubMed 41098072 (opens PubMed)