Saw Palmetto and Hair Loss
Saw Palmetto is a natural extract used to treat adrogenetic alopecia. Learn more about the connection between Saw Palmetto and hair loss.
Overview
Alopecia or hair loss refers to the loss of hair from the head or any part of the body. It is not a sudden thing to happen overnight but starts gradually with thinning of hair and ultimately leading to hair loss. It can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause. There are different types of hair loss, one of the common types is Androgenetic alopecia. This type involves the genetics and hormones which cause hair loss.
You’ll find a variety of treatments for hair loss, but in this article we are going to discuss the connection between Saw Palmetto and hair loss. If you are looking for different treatments for hair loss, you have most certainly come across the name of this natural herb, which is mainly used to manage androgenetic alopecia rather than other types of hair loss.
SEREVELLE: what the clinical percentages mean
SEREVELLE™ is a specific saw palmetto fatty-acid extract. A 180-day randomized, double-blind trial included 60 adults with self-perceived thinning hair: 40 received the extract and 20 placebo. The daily study softgel contained 160 mg extract, delivering 105 mg ActiLipid4Hair fatty acids. Read Ablon’s 2026 study.
| Measurement | SEREVELLE | Placebo | Reported relative improvement versus placebo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal hair count | +18.6 | −10.1 | 283% |
| Vellus hair count | +6.6 | −2.1 | 414% |
| Total hair density | +25.1 | −12.2 | 306% |
Interpret the percentages carefully: 306% is the paper’s comparison of changes between groups, including a decline with placebo. It does not mean participants grew 306% more hair than their own baseline. This small, six-month ingredient trial does not establish identical results for every saw palmetto supplement or the finished DHT Blocker Maximum Strength formula. No treatment-related adverse events were reported; that does not establish zero risk or long-term safety.
Saw palmetto label quality: look beyond milligrams
Powdered berries and concentrated extracts are not interchangeable. A laboratory analysis of 20 commercial supplements found substantial differences in fatty-acid and phytosterol content across product forms. This was a composition study, not a hair-growth trial. Read the supplement-composition analysis.
- Identify the ingredient. Look for Serenoa repens, the berry/fruit source, and whether the product contains powder, oil or a named extract.
- Check the amount per daily serving. A large blend weight does not reveal the individual saw palmetto dose.
- Read the standardization. Total fatty acids, free fatty acids, and fatty acids plus sterols describe different measurements. Compare like with like.
- Ask for quality documentation. Request a current, batch-specific certificate of analysis covering identity, composition and contaminants. Marketing terms alone do not verify the contents.
Illustrative label calculation: 160 mg of extract standardized to 85% total fatty acids supplies 136 mg total fatty acids; at 95%, it supplies 152 mg. These are calculation examples, not verified specifications for DHT Blocker Maximum Strength. A concentration percentage is not a percentage of hair regrowth or DHT reduction.
Advanced Trichology DHT Blocker Maximum Strength
Product information: Advanced Trichology lists SEREVELLE™ in its DHT Blocker Maximum Strength formula, alongside pumpkin seed oil, green tea, pygeum, nettle root and vitamin D3. Check the current Supplement Facts, directions and cautions on the manufacturer’s page before use.
The manufacturer’s “up to 75×” statement concerns bioactive fatty-acid concentration relative to typical powders. It is not a claim of 75 times greater hair growth. Product-line consumer surveys should not be treated as results from a trial of this formula alone.
What is Saw Palmetto?
Saw palmetto is an extract that is extracted from the fruits of a palm tree known as Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulata. This tree is grown in the Southeastern United States with a height of 6 to 10 feet, and the extract from its fruit (berries) is known to be one of the natural five alpha-reductase inhibitors. The purified extracts from berries contain 85 to 90% sterols and fatty acids. This combination of sterols and fatty acids is thought to improve hair loss (Androgenetic). Trichologists promote Saw palmetto as an alternative to finasteride due to its similarity to the finasteride in treating hair loss.
Pathogenesis of Androgenetic alopecia
Before getting into the mechanism by which Saw palmetto acts to reduce hair loss, it is essential to know how hair loss occurs? Androgenetic alopecia is common in both males and females. It is caused by specific genes, which increases the sensitivity of androgenetic receptors to DHT (dihydrotestosterone). 5 alpha-reductase is an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. This DHT targets hair follicles in genetically prone people and causes them to shrink, affecting hair growth. It also transforms the hair growth cycle from long anagen and short telogen phases to long telogen and short anagen phase. These both effects cause hair loss.
How are Saw Palmetto and hair loss connected?
As described earlier DHT produced as a result of the action of 5 alpha-reductase is the cause of hair loss. So, the treatments aim at inhibiting the enzyme and uptake of DHT by the hair follicles. Saw palmetto is known to act in the same way. Studies have shown the inhibitory effect of Saw palmetto on 5 alpha-reductase, thus reducing the production of DHT. The other way in which saw palmetto exerts its effect is by decreasing the uptake of DHT by hair follicles by minimizing its ability to bind with specific androgenetic receptors.
Available Forms of Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is available in following different forms that can be used for hair loss.
- Dried whole berries.
- Powdered capsules.
- Liquid extracts.
- Tablets.
- Soft gels.
Among these capsules and tablets are readily available and effective. The recommended oral dosage is 320mg in two divided doses.
Research shows Saw Palmetto reduces hair loss
Nowadays, without any evidence of clinical research, no one is willing to try any product for any problem. Therefore we have gathered some studies which have shown the positive effect of Saw palmetto in reducing hair loss. Although more research studies are yet to be conducted to determine its efficacy.
- A study conducted in 2014 on 25 men in which topical saw palmetto is applied along with 10 percent trichogen. This study concluded with an 11.9 percent increase in hair count after 4 months of topical saw palmetto usage.
- In another study 200mg of the Saw palmetto was given with beta-sitosterol to men with androgenetic hair loss. The results showed hair loss reduction in 60 percent of men as compared to those taking placebo at the same time.
- Another study conducted in Australia in which there was seen an increase in average hair count after 12 to 24 weeks of topical saw palmetto application. This study showed that topical saw palmetto is also useful if one cannot tolerate the oral preparations.
- One study involved 34 men and 28 women aged between 18 to 48 years to see the effectiveness of saw palmetto. They used saw palmetto extract in a base of lotion or shampoo over a period of three months. After three months, their hair density was increased by 35 percent.
Side Effects and Drug Interactions
Until now saw palmetto is considered as the safest hair loss treatment in comparison to other treatment options. Some commonly reported side effects during research studies are:
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Heartburn.
- Diarrhea.
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
- Constipation.
It is recommended to take the oral saw palmetto with meals to reduce its side effects
It can prolong blood clotting time; therefore, it must not be taken with anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel). It must be stopped if one is undergoing surgery as advised by the doctor. Because of its interaction with hormones, it must not be taken with other hormonal supplements like oral contraceptives and finasteride unless prescribed by your doctor. Saw palmetto must also be avoided during children and breastfeeding. Its interaction with testosterone may affect the normal development of male genitalia and may also be associated with birth defects, so it is contraindicated in pregnancy.
Conclusion
Given all the information about saw palmetto and hair loss, it can be considered as one of the cheap and safe alternatives to other hair loss treatment options. It is also readily available and will not cost you much like other medical treatments for hair loss. Although much research needs to be done to supports its effect in reducing hair loss, but many people are using this, and it does produce a positive effect. Apart from uses in hair loss, it has many other beneficial effects like in bladder infections, prostate cancer, and male sexual functions. Having minimal side effects, it is not a bad idea to give it a try for treating hair loss, specifically if you have androgenetic alopecia.
References
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajd.12352
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/saw-palmetto-benefits#The-bottom-line
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2840915/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29949176
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23298508
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30980598
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/saw-palmetto#bottom-line
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-saw-palmetto-halt-hair-loss-89919
