Best natural products ??
- Thread starter fuggles
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Saw palmetto was thought to be a natural 5 aplpha reductase inhibitor; but several studies showed no decrease in PSA OR DHT (that is, Saw Palmetto did no better than placebo), when saw palmetto was compared to finasteride.
A small study of 10 people showed hair growth in 6 of them, but it turned out later that the study was deeply flawed, and that the results wasn't reliable.
However, a new German study shows that using a specific method of extraction, indeed provides a reduction in DHT.
So maybe there is hope after all...
IMO, however, the best "natural" treatment, is soy isoflavones.
It has the most studies to back it up. A close number two is green tea.
Sadly, though, no natural remedy comes anywhere near minoxidil or finasteride when it comes to results...
A small study of 10 people showed hair growth in 6 of them, but it turned out later that the study was deeply flawed, and that the results wasn't reliable.
However, a new German study shows that using a specific method of extraction, indeed provides a reduction in DHT.
So maybe there is hope after all...
IMO, however, the best "natural" treatment, is soy isoflavones.
It has the most studies to back it up. A close number two is green tea.
Sadly, though, no natural remedy comes anywhere near minoxidil or finasteride when it comes to results...
Hoppi
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www.densiti.com 
and for some people at least, diet and lifestyle changes
I believe different people have different hair loss triggers, so that might be worth a thought too!
and for some people at least, diet and lifestyle changes
I believe different people have different hair loss triggers, so that might be worth a thought too!
YES!
Thank you,Bryan, that was one of the studies I mentioned.
Apparently Saw Palmetto relieves symptoms of BPH, but does so by another mechanism than alpha- reductase inhibition.
This is the new study I was talking about.
Potency of a novel saw palmetto ethanol extract, SPET-085, for inhibition of 5alpha-reductase II.
Pais P.
Euromed, C/Rec de Dalt, 21-23, 08100 Mollet del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain, ppais@euromed.es.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent membrane protein 5alpha-reductase irreversibly catalyses the conversion of testosterone to the most potent androgen, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In humans, two 5alpha-reductase isoenyzmes are expressed: type I and type II. Type II is found primarily in prostate tissue. Saw palmetto extract (SPE) has been widely used for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The mechanisms of the pharmacological effects of SPE include the inhibition of 5alpha-reductase, among other actions. Clinical studies of SPE have been equivocal, with some showing significant results and others not. These inconsistent results may be due, in part, to varying bioactivities of the SPE used in the studies. METHODS: The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro potency of a novel saw palmetto ethanol extract (SPET-085), an inhibitor of the 5alpha-reductase isoenzyme type II, in a cell-free test system. On the basis of the enzymatic conversion of the substrate androstenedione to the 5alpha-reduced product 5alpha-androstanedione, the inhibitory potency was measured and compared to those of finasteride, an approved 5alpha-reductase inhibitor. RESULTS: SPET-085 concentration-dependently inhibited 5alpha-reductase type II in vitro (IC(50)=2.88+/-0.45 mug/mL). The approved 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, tested as positive control, led to 61% inhibition of 5alpha-reductase type II. CONCLUSION: SPET-085 effectively inhibits the enzyme that has been linked to BPH, and the amount of extract required for activity is very low compared to data reported for other extracts. It can be concluded from data in the literature that SPET-085 is as effective as a hexane extract of saw palmetto that exhibited the highest levels of bioactivity, and is more effective than other SPEs tested. This study confirmed that SPET-085 has prostate health-promoting bioactivity that also corresponds favorably to that reported for the established prescription drug standard of therapy, finasteride.
Thank you,Bryan, that was one of the studies I mentioned.
Apparently Saw Palmetto relieves symptoms of BPH, but does so by another mechanism than alpha- reductase inhibition.
This is the new study I was talking about.
Potency of a novel saw palmetto ethanol extract, SPET-085, for inhibition of 5alpha-reductase II.
Pais P.
Euromed, C/Rec de Dalt, 21-23, 08100 Mollet del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain, ppais@euromed.es.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent membrane protein 5alpha-reductase irreversibly catalyses the conversion of testosterone to the most potent androgen, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In humans, two 5alpha-reductase isoenyzmes are expressed: type I and type II. Type II is found primarily in prostate tissue. Saw palmetto extract (SPE) has been widely used for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The mechanisms of the pharmacological effects of SPE include the inhibition of 5alpha-reductase, among other actions. Clinical studies of SPE have been equivocal, with some showing significant results and others not. These inconsistent results may be due, in part, to varying bioactivities of the SPE used in the studies. METHODS: The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro potency of a novel saw palmetto ethanol extract (SPET-085), an inhibitor of the 5alpha-reductase isoenzyme type II, in a cell-free test system. On the basis of the enzymatic conversion of the substrate androstenedione to the 5alpha-reduced product 5alpha-androstanedione, the inhibitory potency was measured and compared to those of finasteride, an approved 5alpha-reductase inhibitor. RESULTS: SPET-085 concentration-dependently inhibited 5alpha-reductase type II in vitro (IC(50)=2.88+/-0.45 mug/mL). The approved 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, tested as positive control, led to 61% inhibition of 5alpha-reductase type II. CONCLUSION: SPET-085 effectively inhibits the enzyme that has been linked to BPH, and the amount of extract required for activity is very low compared to data reported for other extracts. It can be concluded from data in the literature that SPET-085 is as effective as a hexane extract of saw palmetto that exhibited the highest levels of bioactivity, and is more effective than other SPEs tested. This study confirmed that SPET-085 has prostate health-promoting bioactivity that also corresponds favorably to that reported for the established prescription drug standard of therapy, finasteride.
A caveat, though:
I tend to always be more skeptic l when I read nutritional studies, because they sometimes tend to be biased towards the substance they´re testing. This is especially the case for Saw Palmetto studies.
In this study, they have a positive control group (finasteride), which is good research methodology. However: note that they do not mention i percentage how effective this SPE is, like they do with finasteride. Note also how they (for some reason) measure the effect of alpha reductase inhibition on conversion of androstenedione to 5- alpha-androstenedione instead of testosterone to DHT. This is very peculiar.
In addition, this study is an IN VITRO study, wich means that the results, while properly obtained from the study, not necessarily will be transferrable to an in vivo study...
To get full comprehension, one should read the full study, though, and not just the abstract :whistle:
I tend to always be more skeptic l when I read nutritional studies, because they sometimes tend to be biased towards the substance they´re testing. This is especially the case for Saw Palmetto studies.
In this study, they have a positive control group (finasteride), which is good research methodology. However: note that they do not mention i percentage how effective this SPE is, like they do with finasteride. Note also how they (for some reason) measure the effect of alpha reductase inhibition on conversion of androstenedione to 5- alpha-androstenedione instead of testosterone to DHT. This is very peculiar.
In addition, this study is an IN VITRO study, wich means that the results, while properly obtained from the study, not necessarily will be transferrable to an in vivo study...
To get full comprehension, one should read the full study, though, and not just the abstract :whistle:
thinincrown
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Bryan said:
Merck study....go figure
hairrific
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Oh lets just add this one to shake things up a bit in the natural products section:
Abstract
Background
Maintaining endogenous testosterone (T) levels as men age may slow the symptoms of sarcopenia, andropause and decline in physical performance. Drugs inhibiting the enzyme 5?-reductase (5AR) produce increased blood levels of T and decreased levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, symptoms of gynecomastia have been reported due to the aromatase (AER) enzyme converting excess T to estradiol (ES). The carotenoid astaxanthin (AX) from Haematococcus pluvialis, Saw Palmetto berry lipid extract (SPLE) from Serenoa repens and the precise combination of these dietary supplements, Alphastat® (Mytosterone(™)), have been reported to have inhibitory effects on both 5AR and AER in-vitro. Concomitant regulation of both enzymes in-vivo would cause DHT and ES blood levels to decrease and T levels to increase. The purpose of this clinical study was to determine if patented Alphastat® (Mytosterone(™)) could produce these effects in a dose dependent manner.
Conclusion
The precise combination of AX and SPLE, Alphastat® (Mytosterone(™)), produced significant changes in serum T, DHT and ES levels. A dose of either 800 mg or 2000 mg/day produced significant increases in T and decreases in DHT within three days with no increases in ES. The effect was not dose dependent indicating that the 800 mg/per day dose is as equally effective as 2000 mg/day in the age range of subjects studied. Blood levels of ES also decreased significantly and in a dose dependant manner indicating the 2000 mg/day dose is more effective than the 800 mg/day dose. There were no outward signs of toxicity or adverse reactions. This data provides support for each mechanism of action observed in-vitro and suggests a potential role for its use in aging men experiencing TDS or symptoms of BPH.
http://www.jissn.com/content/5/1/12
Abstract
Background
Maintaining endogenous testosterone (T) levels as men age may slow the symptoms of sarcopenia, andropause and decline in physical performance. Drugs inhibiting the enzyme 5?-reductase (5AR) produce increased blood levels of T and decreased levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). However, symptoms of gynecomastia have been reported due to the aromatase (AER) enzyme converting excess T to estradiol (ES). The carotenoid astaxanthin (AX) from Haematococcus pluvialis, Saw Palmetto berry lipid extract (SPLE) from Serenoa repens and the precise combination of these dietary supplements, Alphastat® (Mytosterone(™)), have been reported to have inhibitory effects on both 5AR and AER in-vitro. Concomitant regulation of both enzymes in-vivo would cause DHT and ES blood levels to decrease and T levels to increase. The purpose of this clinical study was to determine if patented Alphastat® (Mytosterone(™)) could produce these effects in a dose dependent manner.
Conclusion
The precise combination of AX and SPLE, Alphastat® (Mytosterone(™)), produced significant changes in serum T, DHT and ES levels. A dose of either 800 mg or 2000 mg/day produced significant increases in T and decreases in DHT within three days with no increases in ES. The effect was not dose dependent indicating that the 800 mg/per day dose is as equally effective as 2000 mg/day in the age range of subjects studied. Blood levels of ES also decreased significantly and in a dose dependant manner indicating the 2000 mg/day dose is more effective than the 800 mg/day dose. There were no outward signs of toxicity or adverse reactions. This data provides support for each mechanism of action observed in-vitro and suggests a potential role for its use in aging men experiencing TDS or symptoms of BPH.
http://www.jissn.com/content/5/1/12