Saw palmetto explained: what it is and where it grows
The NIH describes saw palmetto as a small tree native to the West Indies and the southeast coast of North America. The ingredient comes from the fruit of Serenoa repens. Five of the products we reviewed list saw palmetto, and three labels print its amount, from 33.3 mg to 200 mg per serving.
- What it is
- Plant
- In the products we reviewed
- 5, 3 print the amount
What saw palmetto is
- Saw palmetto is derived from the fruit of Serenoa repens.2
- Saw palmetto is a small tree that grows 6 to 10 feet tall.1
- Serenoa repens is also called Serenoa serrulata or Sabal serrulata.1
- Saw palmetto is native to the West Indies and the southeast coast of North America.1
- Saw palmetto comes as liquid extracts, tablets, capsules, and herbal tea.2
How much saw palmetto each product gives
Amount not printed: the dashed line shows the most it can be, the whole blend
Before you take it
Side effects
- Side effects are uncommon and mild and may include dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea.2
- Rare cases of liver injury have been linked to saw palmetto, but whether it caused the injury remains uncertain.2
Ask a doctor first
- Saw palmetto may be unsafe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.1
- If you take any medicine, talk with your health care provider before using an herbal product.1
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. A supplement is not a medicine.
The 5 products we reviewed that list saw palmetto
| Product | Form and serving | Saw palmetto per serving | Our score | Price a bottle | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ViriFlow#1 in prostate health support | Liquid drops2 ml | Not printedIn a 700 mg proprietary blend | 9.4 | $49 | Check price |
 Max Vitalize#3 in men's health support | Capsules2 capsules | 200 mg | 9.3 | $49 | Check price |
 ErecPrime#7 in men's health support | Capsules2 capsules | 33.3 mg | 8.7 | $49 | Check price |
 ProtoFlow#6 in prostate health support | Capsules2 capsules | 84.5 mg | 8.5 | $49 | Check price |
 Prostadine#7 in prostate health support | Liquid drops2 droppers (2 ml) | Not printedIn a 500 mg proprietary blend | 8.3 | $49 | Check price |
Questions people ask
What is the saw palmetto plant?
Saw palmetto is a small tree native to the West Indies and the southeast coast of North America, according to the NIH. The supplement ingredient comes from its fruit.
What forms does a saw palmetto supplement come in?
Saw palmetto comes as liquid extracts, tablets, capsules and herbal tea, according to the NIH.
What are saw palmetto's side effects?
Saw palmetto's side effects are uncommon and mild and may include dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Rare cases of liver injury have been linked to saw palmetto, but whether it caused the injury remains uncertain.
Is saw palmetto safe?
Saw palmetto may be unsafe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you take any medication, ask a clinician before starting saw palmetto.
Which products we reviewed contain saw palmetto, and how much?
Five products we reviewed list saw palmetto: ViriFlow, Max Vitalize, ErecPrime, ProtoFlow and Prostadine. Max Vitalize prints 200 mg per serving, ErecPrime 33.3 mg and ProtoFlow 84.5 mg. ViriFlow and Prostadine list it inside proprietary blends without printing its individual amount.
Also in these products
Sources
The products, amounts and prices come from each product's label and checkout, as its review shows them. AI drafts our pages from listed sources, figures are checked against them, and we have not tried the products.
- 1NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Saw Palmettonccih.nih.gov/healthchecked
- 2NIH LiverTox, Saw Palmettoncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookschecked