An enlarged prostate can make going to the bathroom quite a chore for older men. Now, a new collaborative international panel of seven leading European and North American urologists reports high-quality saw palmetto extract is a valid treatment option for men with mild-to-moderate lower urinary tract symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate.

Saw palmetto extract, also known as lipidosterolic extract of Serenoa repens, is widely available as a natural dietary supplement. The team reviewed over 50 original clinical research studies to come to their conclusions.

“Across the globe, there has been a lack of consensus with regards to the effectiveness of saw palmetto extract resulting in differing recommendations by health organizations around the world,” says study co-author Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, a board-certified urologist, in a media release. “The goal of this expert panel was to contribute to our collective understanding of the science and generate discussion about the role a high-quality saw palmetto extract can play in men’s health.”

What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate?

As men age, it’s very common for their prostates to grow larger. Per the Urology Care Foundation, just about half of all men between 50 and 60 deal with an enlarged prostate. That statistic jumps to 90 percent of men over the age of 80. Symptoms related to prostate enlargement include urinating frequently, nocturia (numerous treks to the toilet overnight), trouble starting and maintaining a urine stream, and post-urination dribbling.

Saw palmetto trees are native to the Southeastern United States and produce berries. Those berries are the most studied natural ingredient when it comes to prostate health, but study authors explain the main problem with saw palmetto supplements nowadays is the wide variety in terms of quality. Many of the saw palmetto supplements available on store shelves throughout the United States aren’t of the best caliber.

What’s the best option among these supplements?

The panel explains that, according to the latest evidence, high-quality lipidosterolic extracts with a profile defined by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph, such as Flomentum®, will likely be clinically effective.

“Our panel recognized that the literature on the benefit of saw palmetto extract for lower urinary tract symptoms was specific to a high-quality extract used at 320 mg daily,” notes lead study author Dr. J. Curtis Nickel.

The team of urologists explain Flomentum is the first, and at this point only, USP-verified prostate health supplement available for supporting lower urinary tract symptoms while producing no sexual side-effects.

“This 2022 review suggests that a high-quality saw palmetto extract can play a positive role supporting the care physicians’ provide to aging men in the United States,” concludes Dr. Leigh Vinocur, a board-certified physician and chief medical officer of Flomentum Health.

The study is published in the journal Uro.