Quality control of saw palmetto products

A study of dietary supplements and herbs commonly used to treat prostate disease has found great variability between label amounts and contents. Vitamin D and selenium were close to the label amounts, vitamin E ranged from –41% to +57%, lycopene was between –38% and +143%, and saw palmetto ranged from –97% to +140%. Three of the six brands of saw palmetto products contained less than 20% of the stated dose of the fatty acids and sterols commonly found in the products used in published clinical trials. The authors expressed concern that many people that take saw palmetto for urinary symptoms may unknowingly be taking a product that has no beneficial potential.

J Urol 2002; 168: 150–4.