JohnnySeville
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Lots of speculation has been prevalent concerning the use of Saw Palmetto. It has been a well known fact that use of saw palmetto extract can be beneficial to those with prostatic hypertrophy, but the method of action has been debated. This study sheds new light on the method of action that this extract exerts, namely by inhibiting the 5AR enzyme, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). One can only speculate that through this action it would have beneficial effects on hair growth as other 5AR inhibitors, ie finasteride etc.
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The ability for Saw Palmetto to inhibit DHT has been the subject of much speculation. It has long been established that Saw Palmetto has beneficial effects on the prostate when given to men with an enlarged prostate (BPH). The question of exactly how Saw Palmetto works has never been fully resolved.
Some research has suggested it may lower DHT, but the studies have been contradictory leaving many people with the impression that Saw Palmetto has no effect on DHT production.
Well now a study done on mice has provided clear evidence that Saw Palmetto does in fact lower DHT production.
Researchers in Oregon were attempting to establish whether Saw Palmetto has any benefit in treating prostate cancer tumors. The researchers tested the Saw Palmetto extract on genetically-engineered mice whose prostate mimics that of a human - these mice are used to test prostate treatments because they respond to drugs in the same way as humans do.
In the study the mice were given one of two doses of Saw Palmetto extract, either 50 mg/kilogram/day or 300mg/kilogram/day for 3 or 6 months.
After the conclusion of the trial the researchers examined the prostates of the mice and found that the mice who had received the equivalent of 300mg/kilogram/day had significantly reduced amounts of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in their prostate tissue.
In addition to this, their prostate tumors had also been reduced in size.
Based on this data the researchers were then able to conclude that Saw Palmetto does indeed reduce the production of DHT by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
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Effects of dietary saw palmetto on the prostate of transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate model (TRAMP)
Wadsworth TL, Worstell TR, Greenberg NM, Roselli CE.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
BACKGROUND: Several of the proposed mechanisms for the actions of the liposterolic extract of saw palmetto (SPE) are exerted on known risk factors for prostate cancer (CaP). This study investigated whether SPE could prevent the progression of CaP in a transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. METHODS: Two different doses of SPE designed to deliver 50 mg/kg/day SPE and 300 mg/kg/day SPE were administered in a custom diet to TRAMP mice for 12 or 24 weeks. Body and organ weights were used to evaluate toxicity, and radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma and tissue androgen levels to monitor effects of SPE on 5alpha reductase activity. Prostate tissues were evaluated histologically to determine the effect of treatment on tumor grade, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. RESULTS: Treatment with 300 mg/kg/day SPE from 4 to 24 weeks of age significantly reduced the concentration of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate and resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis and significant decrease in pathological tumor grade and frank tumor incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation with SPE may be effective in controlling CaP tumorigenesis. SPE suppression of prostatic DHT levels lends support to the hypothesis that inhibition of the enzyme 5alpha-reductase is a mechanism of action of this substance. Prostate (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
*************************************************************
The ability for Saw Palmetto to inhibit DHT has been the subject of much speculation. It has long been established that Saw Palmetto has beneficial effects on the prostate when given to men with an enlarged prostate (BPH). The question of exactly how Saw Palmetto works has never been fully resolved.
Some research has suggested it may lower DHT, but the studies have been contradictory leaving many people with the impression that Saw Palmetto has no effect on DHT production.
Well now a study done on mice has provided clear evidence that Saw Palmetto does in fact lower DHT production.
Researchers in Oregon were attempting to establish whether Saw Palmetto has any benefit in treating prostate cancer tumors. The researchers tested the Saw Palmetto extract on genetically-engineered mice whose prostate mimics that of a human - these mice are used to test prostate treatments because they respond to drugs in the same way as humans do.
In the study the mice were given one of two doses of Saw Palmetto extract, either 50 mg/kilogram/day or 300mg/kilogram/day for 3 or 6 months.
After the conclusion of the trial the researchers examined the prostates of the mice and found that the mice who had received the equivalent of 300mg/kilogram/day had significantly reduced amounts of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in their prostate tissue.
In addition to this, their prostate tumors had also been reduced in size.
Based on this data the researchers were then able to conclude that Saw Palmetto does indeed reduce the production of DHT by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
*************************************************************
Effects of dietary saw palmetto on the prostate of transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate model (TRAMP)
Wadsworth TL, Worstell TR, Greenberg NM, Roselli CE.
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
BACKGROUND: Several of the proposed mechanisms for the actions of the liposterolic extract of saw palmetto (SPE) are exerted on known risk factors for prostate cancer (CaP). This study investigated whether SPE could prevent the progression of CaP in a transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. METHODS: Two different doses of SPE designed to deliver 50 mg/kg/day SPE and 300 mg/kg/day SPE were administered in a custom diet to TRAMP mice for 12 or 24 weeks. Body and organ weights were used to evaluate toxicity, and radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma and tissue androgen levels to monitor effects of SPE on 5alpha reductase activity. Prostate tissues were evaluated histologically to determine the effect of treatment on tumor grade, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. RESULTS: Treatment with 300 mg/kg/day SPE from 4 to 24 weeks of age significantly reduced the concentration of 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the prostate and resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis and significant decrease in pathological tumor grade and frank tumor incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation with SPE may be effective in controlling CaP tumorigenesis. SPE suppression of prostatic DHT levels lends support to the hypothesis that inhibition of the enzyme 5alpha-reductase is a mechanism of action of this substance. Prostate (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
I have no idea how they came to determine 300mg/kg, perhaps the quality of their extract was poor. Not having the full text article one can only speculate on this.