Scientists have found that saw palmetto can slow down 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone into a potent androgen hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Androgen hormones regulate the development of male characteristics.
One old report of multiple studies on saw palmetto in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition did find that men taking saw palmetto over a 2-week period had higher levels of testosterone than those in the placebo control group.
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Sawpalmetto
Native to the Coastal Plains from South Carolina to Florida, and west to Texas. This charming and trouble-free fan palm grows into a clump only 47 feet tall and wide. It adapts to a wide range of habitats, from sand dunes and dry scrub to moist woods and wetlands. The short trunk may be entirely underground or run parallel to the ground. Green to bluish green, palmate leaves are 23 feet across, held on saw-toothed leaf stems to 2 feet long; teeth are quite sharp, so take care when handling, and site away from areas where children play. Clusters of small white flowers give rise to berries that age from yellowish green to blue-black. An extract from the berries is used to treat enlarged prostate in men.
The production of androgen hormones occurs in the testes, ovaries, and adrenal glands. These hormones are also responsible for the development of primary sex organs in the womb and secondary male characteristics in puberty.
By slowing down 5-alpha reductase, saw palmetto could reduce the effects of DHT as men get older.
While proponents of saw palmetto claim that it helps to regulate testosterone levels, there is little evidence confirming this. Much of the research on the connection between saw palmetto and testosterone levels is also very outdated. (123)http://www.sidhhaherbs.blogspot.com
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