Tuesday, May 22, 2012


So is it settled that Lycopene does absolutely nothing for prostate health? How bout Saw Palmetto?

November 25, 2009 by  
Filed under Prostate

Comments

8 Responses to “So is it settled that Lycopene does absolutely nothing for prostate health? How bout Saw Palmetto?”
  1. JustMe says:

    I recommend all natural Saw Palmetto Plus. It helps maintain proper urinary flow. It’s a blend of natural ingredients including the finest standardized saw palmetto berry extract, pumpkin seed oil, and enriched sources of beta-sitosterols and other valuable phytosterols which have been found to support prostate health.

    Hope this is helpful and feel free to contact me with questions.

  2. sockspaw7 says:

    What is the most important information I should know about saw palmetto?

    Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you have:

    cancer of the prostate,
    breast cancer, or
    any other sex hormone-related disease or disorder.
    Saw palmetto may affect hormone levels in your body which could be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

    Do not take saw palmetto without first seeing your doctor for a diagnosis of BPH. Other conditions, including cancer of the prostate, may produce symptoms similar to BPH.

    Men over the age of 50 should have their prostate examined by a doctor on a regular basis. Saw palmetto is not a cure for BPH, it has only been used for relief of the symptoms of BPH.

    Saw palmetto has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of saw palmetto may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

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    What is saw palmetto?

    The use of saw palmetto in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

    Saw palmetto is also known as sabal, serenoa, American dwarf palm tree, and cabbage palm.

    Saw palmetto has been used to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), which is an enlargement of the prostate gland (not due to cancer). Saw palmetto has also been used to relieve difficult urination that may be associated with BPH and to relieve the symptoms of an irritable bladder.

    Saw palmetto has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or purity. All potential risks and/or advantages of saw palmetto may not be known. Additionally, there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

    Saw palmetto may have uses other than those listed in this product guide.

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    Who should not take saw palmetto?

    Before taking saw palmetto, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you have any other medical conditions, allergies (especially to plants), or if you take other medicines or other herbal/health supplements. Saw palmetto may not be recommended in some situations.

    Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you have:

    cancer of the prostate,
    breast cancer, or
    any other sex hormone-related disease or disorder.
    Saw palmetto may affect hormone levels in your body which could be dangerous if you have any of the conditions listed above.

    Do not take saw palmetto without first seeing your doctor for a diagnosis of BPH. Other conditions, including cancer of the prostate, may produce symptoms similar to BPH.
    Do not take saw palmetto without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether saw palmetto will harm an unborn baby. Since saw palmetto may alter hormonal activity, it could be dangerous during pregnancy.
    Do not take saw palmetto without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is also not known whether saw palmetto will harm a nursing infant. Since saw palmetto may alter hormonal activity, it could be dangerous during breast-feeding.

    There is no information available regarding the use of saw palmetto by children. Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without first talking to the child’s doctor.

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    How should I take saw palmetto?

    The use of saw palmetto in cultural and traditional settings may differ from concepts accepted by current Western medicine. When considering the use of herbal supplements, consultation with a primary health care professional is advisable. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial, and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous.

    If you choose to take saw palmetto, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

    Standardized extracts, tinctures, and solid formulations of herbal/health supplements may provide a more reliable dose of the product.

    Saw palmetto is available in oral preparations.

    It has been reported that saw palmetto may require 30 days of regular use before any beneficial effects are seen.

    Saw palmetto has reportedly been used continuously for many years without evidence of side effects.

    Men over the age of 50 should have their prostate examined by a doctor on a regular basis. Saw palmetto is not a cure for BPH, it has only been used for relief of the symptoms of BPH.

    Do not take more of this product than is recommended.
    Do not use different formulations (e.g., tablets, topical formulations, teas, tinctures, and others) of saw palmetto at the same time, unless specifically directed to do so by a health care professional. Using different formulations together increases the risk of an overdose of saw palmetto.

    Store saw palmetto as directed on the package. In general, saw palmetto should be protected from light and moisture.

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    What happens if I miss a dose?

    No information is available regarding a missed dose of saw palmetto. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional if you require further information.

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    What happens if I overdose?

    Seek emergency medical attention.

    Symptoms of a saw palmetto overdose have not been reported.

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    What should I avoid while taking saw palmetto?

    There are no known restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking saw palmetto, unless otherwise directed by your health care professional.

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    What are the possible side effects of saw palmetto?

    Although uncommon, allergic reactions to saw palmetto have been reported. Stop taking saw palmetto and seek emergency medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives.

    Other less serious side effects have also been reported. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience

    cramping,
    nausea,
    diarrhea, or
    headache.
    Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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    What other drugs will affect saw palmetto?

    Do not take saw palmetto without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

    birth control pills such as Triphasil, Ovral, Lo-Ovral, Nordette, Alesse, Demulen, Ortho-Novum, and many others;
    estrogen replacement products such as Premarin, Cenestin, Vivelle, Climara, Fempatch, and many others;
    tamoxifen (Nolvadex) or toremifene (Fareston);
    testosterone (Androderm, Testoderm) or another anabolic steroid; or
    any other hormone-based medicine.
    Since saw palmetto may affect hormones in your body, you may not be able to take saw palmetto, or you may require special monitoring if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

    Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with saw palmetto or affect your condition. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care professional before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines or other herbal/health supplements.

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    Where can I get more information?

    Your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider may have more information about saw palmetto.

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    Consultation with a licensed health care professional is advisable before using any herbal/health supplement. Additionally, consultation with a practitioner trained in the uses of herbal/health supplements may be beneficial and coordination of treatment among all health care providers involved may be advantageous. Remember, keep this and all other prescription drug products, over-the-counter drug products, and herbal/health supplements out of the reach of children.

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  3. mr.answerman says:

    I did not know about the lycopene but I do know studies were done to see if Saw Palmetto had any effect on male hormone levels. The results were clear, no effect. Conclusion is save your money it will do nothing for your prostate.

  4. cosmoshadowbruce says:

    I suggest Saw Palmetto as it maintains proper urinary flow;supports prostate gland;supports male sexual health.It helps with Enlarged prostate;prevents and lessens BPH;urinary difficulties or flow disruptions;urinary tract infections,bladder or kidney concerns.My husband takes a product called Saw Palmetto Complex that is completley natural its contents are Saw Palmetto berry extract plus Beta-Sitosterol and Pumpkin Seed Oil. Allow 4-8 weeks for maximum benefit.

  5. David S says:

    Actually, it is far from settled. Most of the studies have been performed on petroleum-derived, synthetic copies of lycopene or hyper-isolated extracts from foods that contain lycopene.

    And yet there are dozens of other published studies validating lycopene.

    Similarly, the Lancet recently published a paper showing that Echinacea cuts the duration of a cold by 50%, a fact recognized by most countries. However the FDA holds to the “one molecule tested at time” approach so will only attempt to validate, or look at studies, based on one of the over 300 phytocemicals found in Echinacea.

  6. Kelley E says:

    Your premise is incorrect. In a ruling on labeling the FDA said there is not enough evidence thus far that lycopene is effective in preventing prostate cancer.

    That is a far cry from saying (a) it’s settled and (b) it does absolutely nothing. It takes a lot to move the FDA to allow labeling claims. So if you only have a little or a moderate amount of evidence, they say no.

    Also, someone commented that saw palmetto was shown to be ineffective in a study. In that that study only 350 mg were taken daily, when it is well understood by everyone in the know that the correct dosage is 1,050 mg a day.

    In other words the study, was specifically designed to produce negative results for the purpose of creating negative publicity.

    Good luck and be well.

    Kelley

  7. Susan Yarrawonga says:

    Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant found in tomatoes, especially cooked tomatoes, and is supposed to be beneficial for prostate health.

    The big negative, unfortunately, with tomatoes is that they are supposed to be bad for your arthritis and stomach ulcers.

  8. Lost_chic says:

    lycopene is good, saw palmetto does work for urinary tract health, but so does cranberry. The prostrate is an organ that can continue to grow and grow, and when it start affecting urinatiion, then bacteria levels increase, which can spread from the urethra, kidneys and eventually to the prostae , sickening it. There is no cure for prostrate cancer except removal and that should be the last option . Saw palmetto has been used for years in prostrate health but it doesnt work for everyone. The only way you will know is to try it. If you are weary, start in low does to introduce to your body. If you are on blood pressure meds or heart medications, beware of some medications that treat the prostrate that contain ginseng, as that may cause a nasty medicine interaction. ginseng can raise the blood pressure , It is often added to prostrate supplements for preformance.and vitality.