Sometimes it can be hard to know exactly which products to use, given the diversity of hair types and needs. Rossi A, Mari E, Scarno M, et al. Comparitive effectiveness of finasteride vs Serenoa repens in male androgenetic alopecia: a two-year study. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2012;25(4):1167-1173. Both pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto are considered safe for most people. However, they may cause some mild side effects; in rare cases, serious side effects may occur. If you experience any adverse effects, stop taking the supplement and consult your healthcare provider immediately. Speaking with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen is crucial. There are 2 vital PFS studies going on now. Hopefully it sheds some answers. The problem obviously isn't low DHT because most feel fine on finasteride. Something secondary happenes. Saw palmetto has a range of uses. Most of them relate to the effect it is believed to have on testosterone.

Improved sexual function: It is often used to boost libido and enhance sexual function, although more research is needed.

Though raw and dried saw palmetto berries have been eaten for centuries, their safety hasn’t been directly studied. Still, the most common form on the market is oily extracts of the fatty portions of the dried berries ( 1). People should note, however, that the improvement in symptoms in the 2013 study was minimal and the study involved fewer than 100 participants. Prostate cancer prevention and treatment To date, scientific research on saw palmetto for hair loss remains limited. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), there is not enough scientific evidence to support people using saw palmetto for any health condition. Hair oils can add in fatty acids to your hair to replace lipids (fats, oils, waxes, and vitamins that make up the hairs’ structure). That then can helpprevent split ends and breakage.

However, it is helpful to understand the science behind the claims and discover what evidence there is to support the safety and effectiveness of saw palmetto. Shrinking the prostate Murat Karamese, Huseyin Serkan Erol, Mevlut Albayrak, Gulname Findik Guvendi, Emsal Aydin, and Selina Aksak Karamese Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of apigenin in a rat model of sepsis: an immunological, biochemical, and histopathological study Immunopharmacology And Immunotoxicology Vol. 38 , Iss. 3,2016 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27144896 Patient-reported conservation of hair density and quality over time for the SP group versus placebo Significantly higher hair density scores (determined as > 0 indicating increased hair density from baseline) for finasteride (68%) versus SP (38%) What’s more, additional studies list decreased libido as a potential side effect of taking saw palmetto supplements — so more research is needed to confirm this ( 21). Men experiencing hair loss may try taking saw palmetto to stabilize their testosterone levels and slow down the hair loss process. Minor ailmentsRossi, A., et al. (2012). Letter to the editor: Comparative effectiveness of finasteride vs. serenoa repens in male androgenetic alopecia: A two-year study. Saw palmetto may thin your blood and can cause excessive bleeding during surgery. Always tell your doctor all of the supplements you’re taking before beginning any new type of treatment and before surgery. Clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of SP-containing products to treat hair loss is limited. SP has shown promising results in murine models, with hair regrowth mediated through transforming growth factor-β and mitochondrial signaling pathways [ 40]. Additionally, in vitro models have demonstrated SP's ability to inhibit inflammatory gene expression in human keratinocytes, suggesting a multifaceted mechanism for the treatment of AGA, in addition to its proposed antiandrogenic properties [ 41]. The mechanism in which SP instigates hair growth in TE is not entirely clear. A possible explanation may be secondary to its anti-inflammatory properties, or to β-sitosterol's purported angiogenic effects, stimulating vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro and promoting neovascularization in vivo [ 42]. A study in 2014 found that a supplement containing saw palmetto increased testosterone levels. However, the researchers noted that further research would be needed to establish the role of saw palmetto in effective testosterone regulation.