Written bySteve Theunissen, PT
Last Updated onJuly 17th, 2022
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a tree that grows up to 10 feet tall with thorn-shaped leaves arranged like a fan. It is high in healthy fats and has been used for centuries to improve prostate health, balance hormone levels, and prevent hair loss in men.
It can also block negative effects on your testosterone levels and the uptake of DHT and decrease its ability to bind to androgen receptors by nearly 50%.
In this article, we go over the 10 best saw palmetto supplements on the market, their benefits, and answer the most common questions about the supplement.
Top 10 Saw Palmetto Supplements Tested/Ranked:
- Best Saw Palmetto Supplements Overall: Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto
- Best Value: Swanson Saw Palmetto
- Best for Men Over 40: Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex
- Best with Pumpkin Seed Oil: Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus
- Best for Men: Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him
- Best for Women: Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft
- Best Super Strength: Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto
- Best for Prostate Health: Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320
- Best for Virility: Horbaach Saw Palmetto
- Best for Male Pattern Baldness: NutraChamps Saw Palmetto
How Much Do the Best Saw Palmetto Supplements Cost?
The handy chart below breaks the total and per serving cost of our ten favorites so you can compare them at a glance:
Category | Product | Name | Price | Per Serving | Why We Love It |
Best Overall | Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto | $22.00 | $0.22 | It is available in a day and night version; the night version is designed to avoid frequent urination. | |
Best Value | Swanson Saw Palmetto | $7.71 | $0.07 | It represents very good value for money; low price and they use third-party testing. | |
Best for Men Over 40 | Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex | $18.49 | $0.18 | Contains a 50:50 blend of saw palmetto berry powder and saw palmetto extract. | |
Best with Pumpkin Seed Oil | Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus | $23.99 | $0.40 | The combination of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto boosts the effectiveness of this supplement. | |
Best for Men | Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him | $19.49 | $0.08 | It’s designed for men of all ages to support prostate health and male pattern baldness. | |
Best for Women | Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft | $19.99 | $0.20 | It’s specially designed for women and contains a milder dose. | |
Best Super Strength | Dr. Martin’s Nutrition – Super Strength Saw Palmetto | $15.99 | $0.16 | It’s very high dosed, making it great for those who want a higher amount of the supplement. | |
Best for Prostate Health | Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320 | $13.47 | $0.07 | Contains 85 percent fatty acid content, which makes it an awesome anti-inflammatory supp. | |
Best for Virility | Horbäach Saw Palmetto | $7.99 | $0.07 | Has some good user reviews for its ability to boost virility. | |
Best for Male Pattern Baldness | NutraChamps Saw Palmetto | $19.95 | $0.17 | Contains black pepper extract to boost the absorption of other ingredients. |
Products Reviews
Here are the top 10 best saw palmetto supplements money can buy:
Best Saw Palmetto Supplements Overall
The best saw palmetto supplement combines a potent strength capsule with a competitive price and the extra benefit of a day/night option.
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Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto
Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto comes in two versions. The day formula contains 500 mg of saw palmetto berry powder in capsule form. The nighttime formula adds 25 mg of chamomile extract and three mg of melatonin for improved prostate and bladder health, reducing the need to make multiple trips to the bathroom at night. Plus, it promotes a good night’s sleep.
Each bottle of Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto provides you with a hundred capsules. The recommended dosage is one capsule per day, so you get three months’ supply with each purchase.
Who Should Take Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto?
- People who want to prevent frequent nighttime urination.
- Those who have problems sleeping.
Who Should Not Take Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto?
- People who want a super-strength supplement dosage.
Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto Coupon
Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto Coupon
Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto comes in two variants — day and night that can help improve prostate and bladder health, support urinary tract health, and block DHT production.
Best Value
The best-value saw palmetto supplement combines low cost with purity and potency to deliver effective results.
Swanson Saw Palmetto
Swanson is an established brand in the health supplement industry. It has a reputation for excellent products and service. Swanson Saw Palmetto represents good value for money. It is available in 100 and 250 capsule containers. Swanson provides a 30-day guarantee with each purchase.
Swanson employs third-party testers to check the purity and potency of every batch of saw palmetto released in the market. It is a pure form of saw palmetto derived from berry powder.
Who Should Take Swanson Saw Palmetto?
- Individuals who are after a low-cost, quality supplement.
Who Should Not Take Swanson Saw Palmetto?
- People who want extra ingredients to boost the potency of the supplement.
Swanson Saw Palmetto Coupon
Swanson Saw Palmetto Coupon
Swanson is an established brand and uses high-quality ingredients in its saw palmetto offering. Plus, it is one of the most budget-friendly offerings on the list.
Best for Men Over 40
Saw Palmetto can help men over 40 control enlarged prostate problems and male pattern baldness. Our best supplement in this category delivers a potent concentration of saw palmetto to help older men.
Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex
Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex is designed to regulate urinary flow, reduce nighttime bathroom visits, and help reduce the effects of men’s pattern baldness. Each capsule is a blend of saw palmetto berry powder and saw palmetto extract.
Each container of Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex contains a hundred capsules. At a dosage of one per day, that’s a hundred-day supply. Plus, your purchase is covered by a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Who Should Take Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex?
- Men over 40
Who Should Not Take Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex?
- People who want a super high-dose capsule.
Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex Coupon
Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex Coupon
Zhou Nutrition’s Saw Palmetto Prostate Health Complex's formula contains both powder and extract forms for better results. Plus, it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Best with Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seed oil is believed to have similar DHT blocking properties to saw palmetto extract. So, combining the two for greater potency makes a lot of sense.
Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus
Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus contains:
- 320 mg saw palmetto oil
- 260 mg pumpkin seed oil
- 15 mg cranberry seed oil
The combination makes it a very effective supplement to preserve testosterone levels by blocking the enzyme that converts it to DHA. Essential Elements is a well-established company that manufactures all of its supplements in the USA in GMP-compliant factories. They also make use of third-party testers to ensure supplement purity.
Who Should Take Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus?
- Those who want a saw palmetto supplement enhanced with pumpkin seed oil.
Who Should Not Take Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus?
- People who are after a pure saw palmetto product.
Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus Coupon
Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus Coupon
Essential Elements’ Saw Palmetto Plus is a multi-ingredient product that can help improve prostate health, urinary function, and hair health. The pumpkin and cranberry seed oil in the formula enhances the effectiveness of saw palmetto.
Best for Men
Saw palmetto isn’t just for older men. All men can benefit from its hormone-enhancing properties and ability to boost immunity. Our favorite in this category is designed to be taken by men of all ages.
Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him
Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him supports healthy testosterone levels in men. It also addresses urinary and bladder problems. Men with male pattern baldness will also benefit from this supplement.
Sundown has a 40-year reputation as a quality herbal supplement provider. All its products are made in the United States and are subject to third-party testing for purity. It is a pure single-ingredient saw palmetto product.
Who Should Take Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him?
- People who want a pure saw palmetto supplement.
Who Should Not Take Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him?
- People who want a blend of ingredients.
Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him Coupon
Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him Coupon
Each serving of Sundown Naturals Saw Palmetto for Him delivers 900 mg of the ingredient, which supports prostate and urinary health in men and combats male pattern baldness.
Best for Women
Saw Palmetto is usually marketed as a supplement for men. However, it can also benefit women. Our favorite in this category is great for women experiencing hair loss.
Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft
Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft contains 500 mg of saw palmetto berry extract, which is not as high as some products geared toward men. There are a hundred capsules in each container.
At a daily dose of a single capsule per day, you get about three and a half months of supply. It’s low cost, representing very good value for money.
Who Should Take Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft?
- Women who are worried about hair loss.
Who Should Not Take Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft?
- Those who are after a high-dose supplement.
Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft Coupon
Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft Coupon
While most saw palmetto supps on the market are targeted towards men, Saw Palmetto by Nature’s Craft breaks the mold with its for women offering. The product delivers a moderate 500 mg of the ingredient per serving.
Best Super Strength
Our best super strength supp provides you with 1,000 mg of saw palmetto per capsule — three times more than the recommended dosage.
Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto
Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto contains 180 1,000 mg capsules. The recommended dosage is two capsules per day, which could be a little extreme. Cut it back to once per day, and you will have a six-month supply. That represents pretty good value.
Notably, the capsule is made of beef and gelatin, making it unsuitable for vegans.
Who Should Take Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto?
- People who want a super high dosage of saw palmetto powder.
Who Should Not Take Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto?
- Individuals who want to stick within the clinically recommended dosage.
Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto Coupon
Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto Coupon
Dr. Martin’s Nutrition Super Strength Saw Palmetto is one of the most potent saw palmetto supps on the market. The brand uses premium saw palmetto grown and harvested in the USA.
Best for Prostate Health
There is a considerable body of evidence to show that saw palmetto supplementation can improve prostate health. Our best supplement in this category does an effective job of helping control urination and reducing bathroom visits through the night.
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Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320
Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320 is a capsule form supplement, with each capsule providing 320 mg of saw palmetto. The extract is standardized to contain 85 percent fatty acids, making it a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory supp. At the same time, it will help control prostate problems by blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Pure Encapsulations have a 40-year history of excellent service and quality products. All of their products are third-party tested for purity and potency.
Who Should Take Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320?
- People who want to reduce the effects of enlarged prostate.
Who Should Not Take Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320?
- Individuals who want a blended form of saw palmetto.
Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320 Coupon
Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320 Coupon
Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320 contains 85 percent fatty acids, making it a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory supp.
Best for Virility
Saw Palmetto claims to be able to improve libido and virility. However, many of them don’t live up to these promises. Our favorite in this category has several verified reviewers raving about its ability to improve their sex life.
Horbäach Saw Palmetto
Horbäach Saw Palmetto is designed for both men and women. Besides helping improve prostate health and hair loss, it has been formulated to boost libido and virility. Each capsule contains a massive 3,600 mg of pure saw palmetto berry extract. That is the only ingredient, so purity shouldn’t be an issue.
With 120 capsules in each container and a daily recommended dosage of one capsule, you get a four-month supply. This product is made in the USA in FDA-approved facilities.
Who Should Take Horbäach Saw Palmetto?
- People who want to improve their sex drive.
Who Should Not Take Horbäach Saw Palmetto?
- Folks who want a multi-ingredient saw palmetto product.
Horbäach Saw Palmetto Coupon
Horbäach Saw Palmetto Coupon
Horbäach Saw Palmetto delivers 3,600 mg of pure saw palmetto berry extract per serving and is one of the most highly rated saw palmetto supps on Amazon.
Best for Male Pattern Baldness
Male pattern baldness affects men of all ages, but especially those over the age of 40. Saw palmetto’s ability to block the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme can help prevent this condition. Our favorite in this category does an effective job of helping you to keep your hair.
NutraChamps Saw Palmetto
NutraChamps Saw Palmetto is a blended supplement that contains 550 mg of saw palmetto. You also get a 50 mg herbal support blend, made up of pumpkin seed, pygeum africanum bark, and nettle leaf. You also get 5 mg of black pepper extract, which helps the body better absorb other ingredients.
The saw palmetto in the product is a blend of saw palmetto extract and saw palmetto berries powder.
Who Should Take NutraChamps Saw Palmetto?
- Folks who want help with male pattern baldness.
- People who want a blended saw palmetto supplement.
Who Should Not Take NutraChamps Saw Palmetto?
- Those who want a pure saw palmetto supplement.
NutraChamps Saw Palmetto Coupon
NutraChamps Saw Palmetto Coupon
NutraChamps Saw Palmetto contains a combination of 550 mg of saw palmetto and 50 mg of herbal support blend, consisting of pumpkin seed, pygeum africanum bark, and nettle leaf. The product claims to reduce frequent urination, fight hair loss and improve growth, and improvement in prostate health.
What is Saw Palmetto?
Saw Palmetto is a herbal supplement produced from the fruit of the Serenoa Repens plant. The main claimed benefits of saw palmetto are:
- Treating enlarged prostate
- Promoting hair growth
- Boosting virility
- Reducing inflammation
- Blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme
The berries of the plant are ground down to produce a powder, which can be put into capsules or sold as a powder. The oily extract of the saw palmetto dried berry is also a popular form of the supplement.
What to Look For in a Saw Palmetto Supplement
Saw palmetto has become a popular supplement in recent years, resulting in a large number of suppliers coming onto the market. Here are some key things to look for to ensure you get a quality product.
Company
It is best to buy from a well-established company with a reputation for reliability and customer service.
Third-Party Testing
Look for a product that displays a third-party tested label. This will give you the confidence that you are buying a pure, unadulterated product that doesn’t contain anything suspicious.
Customer Ratings
Check online to read customer reviews and check out product ratings. Be on the lookout for products that gave the user an upset stomach or did not produce any noticeable effects. Take note, also, of the level of service the reviewer experienced.
Value
The best value saw palmetto supplement is a mixture of low price per serving, purity, and effectiveness. Always check the number of tablets per serving to work out the per serving value. A lower total price means nothing if you take twice as many capsules each dose than a brand that is slightly more expensive.
How We Ranked the Best Saw Palmetto Supplements
In making our selection of the ten best saw palmetto supplements, we took into account the following factors:
- Brand trustworthiness
- User reviews
- Production standards
- Unprocessed
- Price
- Third-party testing
What are the Benefits of Saw Palmetto Supplements?
Saw palmetto is extremely high in healthy fats. It contains 75 to 90 percent fat content, depending on the method used to extract the active components from the berry.
This supplement may help alleviate the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate. Studies show that taking a saw palmetto supplement can help increase urine flow and lower the incidence of nighttime bathroom visits.
Saw palmetto can also reduce the effects of male pattern baldness. It is believed to do this by blocking the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is believed to shorten the hair growth cycle.
In one study, saw palmetto supplementation (200 mg per day) reduced hair loss by 60 percent compared to a placebo. However, more research is needed before it can be definitively stated that saw palmetto blocks 5-alpha-reductase.
Safety and Recommended Dosage of Saw Palmetto Supplements
Few studies suggest that a saw palmetto dosage between 160 to 320 mg per day is most effective. However, more research is needed to ascertain the effective dosage of the supplement.
There have been no severe side effects noted from saw palmetto supplementation. The following mild side effects have been seen in some people:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Lowered libido
- Headaches
People with a prostate disorder should consult their doctor before taking this supplement.
FAQs
Does saw palmetto increase testosterone levels?
No, testosterone will not increase testosterone levels. However, research suggests it can block the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. It can reduce the effects of DHT that commonly affect older men, such as enlarged prostate and hair loss.
Who should not take saw palmetto?
Pregnant women should not take saw palmetto. Mothers who are breastfeeding should also avoid this supplement. There is also some evidence that saw palmetto might reduce blood clotting. Therefore, it should not be taken within two weeks on either side of surgery.
Will saw palmetto help your hair grow?
No, saw palmetto will not help your hair grow. However, there is some evidence that it can block the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT, which is a contributor to male pattern baldness. So, in this way, saw palmetto may help a person have more hair.
The Bottom Line
Saw palmetto has several proven health benefits, while others require more research. The best saw palmetto supplement right now is Havasu Nutrition Saw Palmetto which is available in the daytime and nighttime formula. The best value supplement is Swanson Saw Palmetto which has a per-serving cost of just seven cents.
If you want to take a saw palmetto saw for prostate health, our recommended product is Pure Encapsulations Saw Palmetto 320.
Go here for the best price on our favorite saw palmetto supplement.
References
- Wilt TJ, Ishani A, Rutks I, MacDonald R. Phytotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Public Health Nutr. 2000 Dec;3(4A):459-72. doi: 10.1017/s1368980000000549. PMID: 11276294.
- Novara G, Giannarini G, Alcaraz A, Cózar-Olmo JM, Descazeaud A, Montorsi F, Ficarra V. Efficacy and Safety of Hexanic Lipidosterolic Extract of Serenoa repens (Permixon) in the Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Eur Urol Focus. 2016 Dec;2(5):553-561. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2016.04.002. Epub 2016 Apr 23. PMID: 28723522.
- Prager N, Bickett K, French N, Marcovici G. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr;8(2):143-52. doi: 10.1089/acm.2002.8.143. Erratum in: J Altern Complement Med. 2006 Mar;12(2):199. PMID: 12006122.
If you have any questions or need further clarification about this review, please leave a comment below, and Steve will get back to you as soon as possible.