Many men with enlarged prostate glands have sought relief from an herbal remedy called saw palmetto. It was reputed to alleviate symptoms such as frequent urination, but a new meta-analysis from the Cochrane Collaboration demonstrates that saw palmetto extract performs no better than placebo. The Cochrane Collaboration is an international network of volunteers that uses rigorous criteria to assess the effectiveness of a wide range of medical interventions. In this case, the investigators analyzed 17 studies lasting from four to 72 weeks. Even the highest dose of saw palmetto was not statistically superior to placebo. The experts conclude that this herbal remedy is safe but ineffective.
[BJU International, June, 2012]
