For some years now, when discussing natural remedies to combat baldness, the term Serenoa Repens has become quite common. This natural anti-DHT is often proposed as an alternative to finasteride in the fight against androgenetic alopecia (or common baldness).
In this article, we will provide you with the necessary information to help you get a clear and precise idea about it.
What is it and what is it for?
Serenoa Repens , also known as saw palmetto , is a dwarf palm native to the southeastern coast of the United States. Today, it is also cultivated in southern Europe and northern Africa.
The fruit of this plant is a small dark red berry (which turns blue-purple when ripe), very similar in shape and size to olives. It is precisely this fruit that has healing properties. Centuries ago, Native American tradition considered these berries an excellent natural remedy for urinary tract infections and prostate inflammation.
The active ingredients that give these healing properties to Serenoa Repens (and the extracts used today) include:
- Free fatty acids : oleic, lauric, myristic, linoleic, linolenic, palmitic
- Phytosterols : β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside, campestrol and stigmasterol
How does it work?
However, initially these were only traditional folk remedies that, although recognized for their effectiveness, were not supported by accredited scientific studies. Only towards the end of the last century were several studies conducted to understand the modes of action of Serenoa Repens and its intervention in alleviating the problems previously mentioned.
A study dating back to 1988 highlighted how the use of Permixon (a lipo-sterolic extract of Serenoa Repens in soft capsules) reduced the absorption of DHT in the tissues analyzed by about 40% . This clearly demonstrates a significant antiandrogenic action , although lower than that of finasteride , which reaches an efficacy of 70% .
A further Italian study from 1998 definitively confirmed that Serenoa Repens is able to inhibit the enzyme alpha 5 reductase in vivo, causing a significant reduction in the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) . This leads to excellent results, particularly in the periurethral area, which is the one that swells in cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) , causing discomfort to the urinary tract. This explains the reason why Serenoa Repens is effective in the treatment of BPH.
The most significant collection of studies on this topic was published in the Journal of Urology in November 1998. This analysis examined the results of 18 landmark studies, involving a total of 2,939 men with symptomatic BPH of the first and second stages.
Symptoms of an Enlarged Prostate
I understand that regular readers of Andro Genetic , who are focused on hair loss, may not be particularly interested in information regarding benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and related urinary disorders. However, I feel it is appropriate to provide some basic information for those who have come here looking for solutions to prostate problems.
Also, if you are over 45 , like me, it might be helpful to read up on these topics. They could be valuable knowledge for the future!
For those who are interested exclusively in baldness, you can safely skip to the next paragraph.
BPH is an enlargement of the prostate due to hyperplasia , that is, an increase in the volume of the gland. This condition can manifest itself as early as age 40 (about 10% of men suffer from it), and at a later age it affects almost 80% of those over 70 .
Typical symptoms of BPH include:
- Less powerful urinary stream
- Difficulty in urination
- Frequent urge to urinate, even at night
- Burning and painful urination
- Increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections
Although it can be asymptomatic in many cases, neglecting BPH could favor the onset of prostatitis and cystitis . For the more serious forms, there are therapies based on drugs that inhibit the production of DHT , such as finasteride or dutasteride , already known to Andro Genetic readers for their usefulness in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia . However, for less serious cases, Serenoa Repens can be an effective option.
In summary, the analysis of the data from the studies cited confirmed that the use of Serenoa Repens in the treatment of BPH leads to an improvement in urological symptoms and urinary flow. However, the importance of Serenoa Repens lies in its ability to inhibit alpha 5 reductase, thus preventing the formation of DHT , the hormone that is the main cause of androgenetic alopecia in predisposed individuals.
Serenoa Repens Hair: What is it useful for?
If you are a reader of Andro Genetic , it is clear that your primary interest is hair … However, up until now we have discussed the use of saw palmetto in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) . This step was essential to understand the mechanism of action of Serenoa Repens , which has been shown to be similar to that of finasteride and dutasteride .
All these drugs, initially developed for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) , have also proven to be very effective in the fight against male pattern baldness . Consequently, it is easy to deduce that, if finasteride and dutasteride have been winning weapons in the therapy for androgenetic alopecia , the combination serenoa repens hair also has all the credentials to be a valid natural remedy against baldness.
Inhibiting 5-alpha reductase isn’t the only way saw palmetto fights androgenetic alopecia. Here’s a summary of its modes of action:
- Reduction of DHT Production : The fatty acids present in saw palmetto inhibit both 5-alpha-reductase enzymes (type 1 and 2), both in prostatic epithelial cells and in hair follicles, reducing the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from testosterone.
- Blocks DHT from binding to follicular receptors : Phytosterols, such as β-sitosterol , compete with DHT to bind to receptors on hair follicle cells, preventing DHT from causing known damage.
- Anti-inflammatory properties : Thanks to its ability to inhibit the enzymes lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase , which are essential for the production of prostaglandins, serenoa helps reduce inflammation.
This combination of actions means that serenoa repens fights baldness on multiple fronts, a very positive aspect considering the multifactorial nature of androgenetic alopecia .
Effective Dosage and Titration
Clinical studies have shown that the optimal dosage, for both BPH and androgenetic alopecia , is 320 mg per day . However, it is essential that the dry extract is titrated correctly, with a percentage of fatty acids and phytosterols between 85% and 95% . Always make sure that the titration is correct to obtain the best results.
Where to Buy Serenoa Repens ?
Apart from Permixon 320 mg , the only product currently registered as a drug and available exclusively in pharmacies with a medical prescription , there are numerous other very valid products classified as supplements .
There is no need to worry too much about the difference between a drug and a supplement. In the 1980s, Pierre Fabre Pharma Srl (the manufacturer of Permixon) decided to register the product as a drug, obtaining approval.
Of course, qualifying as a drug requires much more extensive and expensive testing and research than qualifying a product as a supplement . For this reason, many manufacturers today opt for supplement classification.
There are many supplements based on serenoa repens on the market . Here are some of the best:
Vitaminity Serenoa Repens Extract
An entirely Italian product, available on HairShopEurope , containing lipophilic extract standardized at 90%-95% with a dosage of 320 mg per softgel .
This product offers great value for money, with a pack that includes a whopping 60 320 mg softgels .
Vitaminity DHT Blocker Complex
Another product made in Italy by Wilco , which in addition to the correct dosage of serenoa, includes additional natural anti-DHT substances to enhance its action.
Whether you are looking for a solution for androgenetic alopecia or benign prostatic hypertrophy , these supplements are an excellent choice to benefit from the properties of serenoa repens .
Prostamol
Certainly very popular also thanks to the massive advertising campaign on television.
Restax
Sametrix
Sametrix was the first product to be marketed with a formulation specifically designed for hair care . In addition to Serenoa repens extracts , its composition includes targeted ingredients such as urtica dioica , resveratrol and zinc , thus offering a combined action to combat hair loss.
However, although Sametrix may seem affordable, its titration in Serenoa repens is 40% , which is quite low. This would force you to double the dose to reach adequate concentrations to achieve effective results.
As you can see, there are many products on the market and those mentioned above are all valid. Obviously, there are also other high-quality products. The important thing, when making your choice, is to pay attention to the titration in fatty acids and phytosterols , which should be between 85% and 95% , or in any case guarantee a daily dosage of 320 mg of extract .
In the future, we will expand the reviews of the best supplements based on Serenoa repens to highlight their specific characteristics.
Side Effects of Serenoa Repens
Being a natural product, sold mainly as an over-the-counter and non-prescription supplement (with the exception of Permixon ), side effects are generally limited to digestive and gastrointestinal disorders .
To avoid these possible side effects, you may want to consider using Ajuga Reptans , which has even been shown to be effective in treating gastrointestinal diseases .
Of course, we are talking about taking the standard dosage of 320 mg per day and people who do not have pre-existing hormonal problems. Otherwise, it is always advisable to consult your doctor, since saw palmetto has anti-androgenic properties anyway .
Finasteride Alternative: Yes or No?
To answer this question, a comparative study conducted in Italy and published in the International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology comes to our aid . This 2-year study involved 100 individuals with mild to intermediate androgenetic alopecia .
Two groups were created : group 1 was administered 1 mg of finasteride per day , while group 2 was administered 320 mg of Serenoa repens per day. During the 24 months of testing, monthly photos were taken to monitor progress.
The results showed that in the Serenoa repens group , 38% of individuals experienced an improvement in their condition and an increase in the number of hairs, while in the finasteride group the percentage was 68% . Furthermore, while finasteride was shown to be effective in both the frontal area and the vertex , Serenoa only had effects in the vertex .
The best results in terms of quality of the increase were recorded in the group treated with finasteride, especially in patients with baldness at level 2-3 on the Norwood scale , therefore of mild or moderate intensity. Both groups tolerated their respective therapies well , without side effects.
To the question “Serenoa Repens for hair: can it be an alternative to finasteride?”, we can answer with caution. Saw Palmetto can be considered a valid approach in the treatment of mild to intermediate AGA , and an interesting alternative for those who do not want or cannot use finasteride or other topical therapies.
This natural supplement has been shown to be capable of stabilizing situations of moderate androgenetic alopecia , with almost no side effects. However, being a product of botanical origin, one cannot expect the same results as synthetic drugs such as finasteride or dutasteride . As confirmed by studies, Saw Palmetto acts in a milder way .
Despite this, we can say that, among natural supplements , it is certainly one of the most effective for combating androgenetic alopecia .