Saw Palmetto + Finasteride?

yep78

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Hey guys,

This is something I've been wondering lately. Finasteride works by inhibiting the 5ar enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, which can damage the scalp follicles overtime, which causes hair loss. But I've recently read that saw palmetto works to prevent DHT in a different manner... apparently it is not a 5ar inhibitor, but actually "reduces the uptake of DHT at the receptor sites by a factor of 40%." Not sure if this is common knowledge around here or not, but I was wondering all of your opinions on this information. Would taking saw palmetto and finasteride at the same time be more effective at combating hair loss, since they work at battling hairloss from a different angle?


This is the site where I got my information about the mechanism of saw palmetto (a study done by Merck):

http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateSawpalmettopropecia8-07.html
 

Afro_Vacancy

Senior Member
My Regimen
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Saw palmetto probably gives a mild improvement imo.

However, the mechanism suggested by the link is quite worrisome ... it shuts down all androgen receptors by 40%, inclding those of testosterone, meaning it makes you less of a man.
 

lickawrist

Established Member
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Why would it be pointless? Saw Palmetto doesn't work in the same way as finasteride.
I'm well aware of SP's mechanism, but there's nothing to suggest that SP can selectively mitigate DHT docking on the scalp. Not too mention the point that David_MPN made. I'm not saying it won't work, but from a practical sense, it's pointless to use SP when finasteride is already doing its job. But it's your body, so do what you want.
 
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