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Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Herboral · inferred

Liposterolic extract from the fruit of Serenoa repens. Proposed mechanisms include 5-alpha-reductase inhibition (types I and II), anti-androgenic effects, anti-inflammatory activity (COX-2/5-LOX inhibition), and anti-proliferative effects on prostate cells. One of the most commonly used supplements worldwide for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms, though large RCTs (STEP/CAMUS) showed no significant benefit over placebo. Generally well-tolerated.

Projected serum levels — 320 mg, once daily

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) modeled serum levels, 320 mg once daily over 15 days Population-based pharmacokinetic estimate. Steady state reached after approximately 2 days. 0 50 100 150 200 Day 0 Day 4 Day 8 Day 11 Day 15 Time on a regular schedule ≈ steady state · day 2
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) modeled serum levels with a loading dose of 442 mg, then 320 mg once daily The first dose is larger so levels approach steady state faster. 0 50 100 150 200 Day 0 Day 4 Day 8 Day 11 Day 15 Time on a regular schedule

Maintenance schedule: 320 mg once daily (oral).

Loading schedule: 442 mg on day 1, then 320 mg once daily — reaching therapeutic levels sooner.

Modeled steady state after ~2 days: peak ≈ 118 mg, trough ≈ 47.2 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a 320 mg dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.

Key facts

Category
Herb
Route modeled
Oral
Model confidence
inferred
Half-life
11 h
Common dose
320 mg
Suggested maximum
960 mg/day
Reference dose range
160–960 mg (single dose)
Suggested cadence
once daily

Documented interactions

  • moderate
    Mesalamine / 5-ASA (Lialda/Apriso/Pentasa) + Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Stacked effects

    Mesalamine / 5-ASA (Lialda/Apriso/Pentasa) and Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) both push the cox2 and lox5 in the same direction.

  • watch
    5-Aminosalicylic Acid (Mesalamine) + Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Stacked effects

    5-Aminosalicylic Acid (Mesalamine) and Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) both push the cox2 in the same direction.

  • watch
    Amitriptyline (Elavil) + Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Stacked effects

    Amitriptyline (Elavil) and Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) both push the alpha1 adrenergic in the same direction.

  • watch
    Aripiprazole (Abilify) + Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Stacked effects

    Aripiprazole (Abilify) and Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) both push the alpha1 adrenergic in the same direction.

  • watch
    Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) + Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Stacked effects

    Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) and Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) both push the cox2 in the same direction.

  • watch
    Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa / Thymoquinone) + Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Stacked effects

    Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa / Thymoquinone) and Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) both push the cox2 in the same direction.

Serum checks 33 modeled interaction pairings for saw palmetto (serenoa repens) across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.

Research behind this entry

  1. Saw palmetto for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review (Cochrane) Tacklind J et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2012 DOI

    Updated Cochrane review of 32 RCTs (5666 men) concluded saw palmetto at standard doses did not significantly improve urinary symptoms or prostate size versus placebo, though it was well-tolerated.

  2. Increasing doses of saw palmetto did not improve BPH symptoms (CAMUS trial) Barry MJ et al. · JAMA, 2011 DOI

    Rigorous NCCIH-funded RCT (369 men) testing escalating saw palmetto doses (320-960 mg/day) found no improvement in AUA Symptom Index versus placebo at any dose over 72 weeks.

2 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.