Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research

Saw Palmetto and Improved Quality of Life

Research synthesisVery low evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 1 beneficial · 2 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies, 1 reported a small beneficial effect on quality of life (QoL), while 2 found neutral effects with small effect sizes. The evidence base is small and mixed, with the largest meta-analysis (n=853) reporting uncertain results. The most-studied dose was 320 mg once daily, primarily in clinical populations of men with lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, with a median study duration of approximately 7.7 years—effects typical of long-term use.

  • Effective dose range: 320 mg once a day
  • Studied populations: men with LUTS due to benign prostatic enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia, at risk for progression

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. Many of the included studies did not reach statistical significance — effect may be smaller than the predominant direction suggests. The only beneficial study was a small observational trial (n=30) with a low evidence score, while higher-quality meta-analyses showed neutral findings.

Generated Jul 11, 2026
Doses used in studies
  • mg/day: 320 (median 320, IQR 320320) 1 study
Time to effect
Median: 94.3 months · IQR 50.1 months138.4 months · Range 6 months182.5 months — Reported in 2 of 3 studies
Safety in these studies
3 of 3 papers
Back to top