Library of Clinical Studies & Publications
　　Saw palmetto extract vs. Proscar   
Proscar
Description: Proscar (finasteride) was the first FDA-approved drug  in the treatment of BPH. It works by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme, 5  alpha-reductase, involved in male sex hormone (testosterone) metabolism. Proscar  blocks the transformation of testosterone to hihydrotestosterone, a very potent  hormone derived from testosterone, within the prostate. Dihydrotestosterone is  responsible for the overproduction of prostate cells which ultimately results in  prostate enlargement.   
Effectiveness and safety:
Although Proscar has received much attention, based on the results of the  clinical trials, less than 37% of patients on Proscar will experience clinical  improvement after taking the drug for one year and it must be taken for at least  six months before any improvement can be expected. Meanwhile, about 5% of men  suffer from decreased libido, ejaculatory disorders, and impotence while on the  drug. Despite Proscar`s shortcomings and side effects, Merck, the manufacturer  of Proscar, has predicted sales will soon reach $1 billion dollars annually.     
Cost
Proscar costs about $75.00 for a month`s supply   
Saw Palmetto Extract
Description
The Saw palmetto extract used in the clinical  studies is a well-defined purified fat-soluble extract containing between 85%  and 95% fatty acids and sterols. Like Proscar, the therapeutic effect of the Saw  palmetto extract appears to be due to its inhibition of dihydrotestosterone.  However, the Saw palmetto extract also inhibits the binding of  dihydrostestosterone at cellular binding sites.   
Effectiveness and safety:
Numerous double-blind clinical studies on the Saw palmetto extract have  shown it to be effective in nearly 90% of patients usually in a period of 4 to 6  weeks. Detailed toxicity studies in animals, as well as the results from  clinical trials, indicate that the Saw palmetto extract is without toxicity or  side effect. Despite the impressive clinical effectiveness, safety, and  popularity of Saw palmetto extract in the treatment of BPH in the United States,  manufacturers are prohibited from making any medical claims by the FDA.     
Cost
At the effective dosage of 160mg twice daily, Saw palmetto extract costs  about $24.00 for a month`s supply.   
　　An extract of the berries from the Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), a palm  tree native to the Southern Atlantic coast, has emerged as a popular treatment  for an enlarged prostate both in Europe and the United States. This popularity  is for good reason.
　　Over 20 double-blind, placebo controlled studies have demonstrated the  fat-soluble extract of the Saw palmetto berries is very effective in relieving  all of the major symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) including  increased nighttime urinary frequency, the most bothersome complaint.
　　In fact, in these studies, the Saw palmetto extract has been shown to