Osterly Market Prostate Complex — Saw Palmetto & Beta-Sitosterol

Beta-sitosterol is the ingredient here with the better evidence. It is also the one nobody advertises.

Saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol together, with pygeum, zinc, vitamin E and B6.

What it's for

Two botanicals with different track records. Saw palmetto is the famous one, and the largest trials found it no better than placebo for urinary symptoms. Beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol, is the quieter one, and it has come out better — a Cochrane review of several controlled trials found improvements in urinary symptom scores and flow, while noting the studies were short and the long-term picture is unknown. If this blend does anything, the sterol is the likelier reason.

How to take it

• Follow the label serving, with food
• Two to three months before judging it
• Beta-sitosterol can slightly reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids over time
• Saw palmetto has a mild blood-thinning effect. Mention it before surgery or if you take an anticoagulant
• Get the symptoms looked at. Trouble passing urine, frequent night-time trips, a weak stream or blood in the urine need a doctor. It is usually a benign enlarged prostate — but it can be prostate cancer, and a supplement is not a way to find out which

On the label

• Saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol, with pygeum, B6, zinc and vitamin E
• "Supports healthy prostate function" and "supports urinary tract health" — the bottle's own words
• 120 capsules

What this is not

• Not a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia or any diagnosed condition
• Not a replacement for prescribed medication
• Not a substitute for a examination

The straight answer

The marketing for this whole category leads with saw palmetto, which is the ingredient the big trials went against. Beta-sitosterol has the better data and gets second billing because it is less famous. If you are going to try something here, that is the part worth paying for.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk to your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription medication.