Why I Stopped Taking Saw Palmetto for My Prostate and Started Taking Beta Sitosterol

Red Cap BottleBeta Sitosterol vs Saw Palmetto

About five years ago I started having symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Everyone I asked told me to take an herb called saw palmetto, so I did. I started with 160 mg once a day. That didn’t seem to do much, so I increased my dose to twice a day. Then it started to help alleviate the symptoms. I made the mistake a couple of times of switching to cheaper brands that didn’t seem to work for me, but overall it helped.

Last year I read an article that explained that beta sitosterol is the ingredient in saw palmetto that works for BPH. So I wondered why I had been buying a saw palmetto supplement all this time. I then looked for beta sitosterol research that indicated that it was safe and effective, just to be sure, and I found there had been some clinical studies conducted. 1, 2

I began trying a beta sitosterol supplement and since that time, I have not had to make more than one trip to the bathroom during the night. Often I sleep through the whole night. I never had that good of results with saw palmetto.

Beta Sitosterol Dosage

It is hard to find a consensus for a dose, but if you are taking it for BPH, 130 mg a day is a commonly recommended amount. I’ve been taking 160 mg a day, mostly because the first brand I started taking came in that strength. Since it worked and I haven’t had any side effects, I’ve continued taking this brand.

Beta Sitosterol Side Effects

Taking beta sitosterol for BPH, or prostate health, typically requires such a low dose that side effects are very uncommon. I haven’t noticed any problems while taking 160 mg a day. Some side effects that have been reported by people taking more than the recommended amount include nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, and impotence.

Dietary Sources of Beta Sitosterol

Beta Sitosterol is a naturally occurring plant sterol found in avocados, pistachios, almonds, soybeans, and wheat germ. I have also read that there is a lot of beta sitosterol in margarine, but I wouldn’t recommend that. Margarine is a trans fat. Trans fats are unhealthy because they increase your risk of heart disease by raising your bad cholesterol.

References

  1. Berges R, Windeler J, Trampisch H, Senge T. (1995). “Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of β-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia”. The Lancet 345(8694): 1529-32.
  2. Wilt T, Ishani A, Macdonald R Stark G, Multrow C, Lau J. (2000). “Beta-sitosterols for benign prostatic hyperplasia”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2):CD001043.

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