Prostate Support

What this is. A saw palmetto and botanical blend, taken by men for prostate and urinary health, usually from midlife onward.

300 mg of saw palmetto per two-capsule serving, against the 320 mg used in the studies. That is close, and close is not the same as equal, so the front of the bottle prints the real number rather than a rounded one.

What you are actually getting, per 2 capsules

• Vitamin E — 25 mg
• Vitamin B6 — 13.8 mg
• Saw Palmetto (no standardisation stated) — 300 mg
• Pygeum (3% phytosterols) — 200 mg
• Grape Seed — 100 mg
• Pumpkin Seed — 100 mg
• Nettle — 50 mg
• Boron — 10 mg
• Lycopene (5%) — 10 mg

Pygeum is 200 mg standardised to 3% phytosterols, which is about 6 mg of phytosterols. Lycopene is written as 5%, 10 mg; read as 10 mg of a 5% preparation that is about 0.5 mg of lycopene, and the panel does not make clear whether it means that or 10 mg of lycopene itself. Saw palmetto carries no standardisation at all here: no fatty acid percentage, and no statement of whether it is an extract or milled berry.

Worth knowing before you buy

The 20 mg between 300 mg and the 320 mg used in trials is a small gap, and on its own we would not make much of it. The standardisation is the bigger question. Those trials use a liposterolic extract standardised to 85% to 95% fatty acids, usually in a softgel, taken once a day. This panel states 300 mg of saw palmetto and nothing about the preparation, so there is no way to tell from the label whether you are getting the same material.

So: close on weight, unknown on strength. That is the honest position, and it is more useful to you than the comparison to 320 mg on its own. If you want to match the research, look for a label that prints the fatty acid percentage. And if you have urinary symptoms, get them looked at properly — a supplement is not a substitute for a diagnosis.

How to take it

Two capsules a day with water. Sixty capsules in the bottle at two a day, which is 30 days.

Other ingredients

Gelatin. The capsules are gelatin, which is animal-derived, so this is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. The panel does not state the animal source of the gelatin. It declares no allergens.

Cautions

Saw palmetto may add to the effect of anticoagulant and antiplatelet medicines such as warfarin, clopidogrel and aspirin, so mention it to your doctor if you take one or have surgery coming up. If you are having PSA testing, tell your doctor you take saw palmetto so the result is read with that in mind. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not use if the safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not exceed the recommended dose. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking prescription medication or living with a medical condition, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting this or any supplement.

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.