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[blood]

http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/5/9/3617

Nutrients 2013, 5(9), 3617-3633; doi:10.3390/nu5093617
Article
Fatty Acid and Phytosterol Content of Commercial Saw Palmetto Supplements

Kavitha Penugonda and Brian L. Lindshield *

Department of Human Nutrition, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 13 June 2013; in revised form: 16 August 2013 / Accepted: 20 August 2013 / Published: 13 September 2013
Abstract: Saw palmetto supplements are one of the most commonly consumed supplements by men with prostate cancer and/or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Some studies have found significant improvements in BPH and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with saw palmetto supplementation, whereas others found no benefits. The variation in the efficacy in these trials may be a result of differences in the putative active components, fatty acids and phytosterols, of the saw palmetto supplements. To this end, we quantified the major fatty acids (laurate, myristate, palmitate, stearate, oleate, linoleate) and phytosterols (campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol) in 20 commercially available saw palmetto supplements using GC-FID and GC-MS, respectively. Samples were classified into liquids, powders, dried berries, and tinctures. Liquid saw palmetto supplements contained significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of total fatty acids (908.5 mg/g), individual fatty acids, total phytosterols (2.04 mg/g), and individual phytosterols, than the other supplement categories. Powders contained significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of total fatty acids than tinctures, which contain negligible amounts of fatty acids (46.3 mg/g) and phytosterols (0.10 mg/g). Our findings suggest that liquid saw palmetto supplements may be the best choice for individuals who want to take a saw palmetto supplement with the highest concentrations of both fatty acids and phytosterols.
Keywords: saw palmetto; serenoa repens; prostate; benign prostatic hyperplasia; prostate cancer; fatty acids; phytosterols; supplements

Commentary from Nutra-ingredients:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Level-of-actives-varies-widely-among-saw-palmetto-products-researchers-find

Level of actives varies widely among saw palmetto products, researchers find



Saw palmetto has shown some promising results in studies, but has also shown equiovocal results in some large studies. The researchers raised the question of whether the quality of the saw palmetto used in those studies was uniform...

In the study, researchers Kavitha Penugonda and Brian L. Lindshield from Kansas State University looked at 20 commercially available saw palmetto products... and analyzed them for the levels of these actives. These were divied among liquids, powders, dried berries and tinctures.

Their results were unequivocal: Liquid products had an overwhelmingly greater amount of fatty acids, with a mean content of 90.9% on a mg/g basis, with Doctor’s Best the highest at 94.1%. Powders had a mean of only 18%, with GNC’s Saw Palmetto Formula the weakest at 6.9%. Dried berry products had a mean of 12.6%, and tinctures had the lowest amount, with a mean of 4.6%.

The "liquid" category refers to products that are presented as liquids in soft gel capsules, e.g.,
http://www.iherb.com/Doctor-s-Best-Best-Saw-Palmetto-Standardized-Extract-320-mg-60-Softgels/24

Nice thing about this study is they list the brand names for all products examined.

[Gerrans]

I would endorse Doctor's Best saw palmetto as palpably effective. I have a residual gulping of the left kidney when I pee; I tried a whole series of supplements for that without effect, but within days of starting Doctor's Best saw palmetto it stopped. It is not cured, of course--it resumes if I run out of saw palmetto.

I was rather staggered by this. I am not one to report lots of effects from supplements. Mostly I cannot identify effects, or, with herbs, I identify bad effects such as headaches. If you have urinary tract issues, Doctor's Best saw palmetto is my recommendation.

Edited by Gerrans, 08 December 2013 - 12:39 PM.