Ingredient
Saw Palmetto in Protoflow: 84.5 mg a Serving
Saw palmetto is a palm fruit extract, and Protoflow lists 84.5 mg of it per serving of two capsules. In two NIH-funded trials, saw palmetto alone did not improve urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate, even at three times the standard 320 mg dose. The label gives no extract details.
Written by the Protoflow label teamUpdated
The plant01
What is saw palmetto?
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a small palm from the south-eastern United States whose berries are sold as an extract for urinary comfort in men.
The berry has been used in folk medicine for a long time, and in supplements it is among the best known "prostate" herbs. That reputation is why the sales page names it. The label line reads "Saw Palmetto" with 84.5 mg, no Daily Value and no note on which part of the plant or which extraction method was used.
Because the label gives no detail, we cannot tell whether the capsules hold a lipid extract, which is what most trials used, or simply dried and ground berry. The two behave differently, and a ground berry at this weight would deliver very little of the fatty acids that researchers focus on.
| Name on the label | Saw Palmetto (Fruit) |
|---|---|
| What it is | Serenoa repens fruit |
| Place on the label | 11 of 14 |
| Amount per serving (2 capsules) | 84.5 mg |
| Per capsule, if split evenly | 42.25 mg (the label does not say) |
| % Daily Value | Not established |
| Named on the sales page? | Yes, without an amount |
| Amount used in research | Trials used 320 mg a day and up to three times that |
| Strength of evidence | Probably not helpful for urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate (NCCIH) |
| Marketed or traditional use | Marketed for prostate and urinary comfort |
| Main caution | Mild digestive upset, dizziness, headache; may be unsafe in pregnancy. |
The amount02
How much saw palmetto is in Protoflow?
Protoflow lists 84.5 mg of saw palmetto per serving, which is 42.25 mg per capsule if the two capsules are filled equally.
It sits at line 11 of 14 on the panel, ahead of only inosine, oat straw and cayenne. The two biggest lines, hawthorn and epimedium, are 250 mg each, about three times as much. In other words, the herb that sells prostate products is nearly the smallest herb line in this one.
Studies of saw palmetto extract use 320 mg a day as the standard dose (Barry et al., JAMA 2011). The label amount is about 26% of that. A smaller dose of a mixed formula cannot be assumed to behave like a full dose of a single extract, and no study tests it. The bars below put the label next to the trial doses.
The trials03
Does saw palmetto help an enlarged prostate?
Mostly no: the best trials found saw palmetto used alone did no better than a placebo for the urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
The CAMUS trial, published in JAMA in 2011, gave 369 men older than 45 saw palmetto extract at 320 mg, then 640 mg, then 960 mg a day over 72 weeks. Symptom scores did not differ from placebo at any dose (Barry et al., JAMA 2011). A companion NIH-funded trial at the standard dose reached the same result (NCCIH, Saw Palmetto). NCCIH describes saw palmetto as "probably not helpful" for these symptoms, and a 2023 review of 27 studies found little or no benefit when it was given alone (NCCIH, Saw Palmetto).
The Cochrane group has reviewed the same question for years. The 2012 review is listed in our sources, and a 2023 update asks about lower urinary tract symptoms from an enlarged prostate (Cochrane, Serenoa repens for BPH). Older, smaller studies sometimes looked better, which is why the herb kept its reputation. The larger, better-controlled trials are the reason many doctors no longer suggest it.
None of this tests Protoflow. It only tells you that the herb at the head of most prostate labels is a weak reason to buy one.
Side by side04
How does the Protoflow amount compare with the research?
The label amount is far below every dose that has been tested, and no trial has tested it in a mixed formula.
| Source | Daily amount | Result for urinary symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Standard dose in trials | 320 mg | No better than placebo (Barry et al., JAMA 2011) |
| Double dose | 640 mg | No better than placebo (Barry et al., JAMA 2011) |
| Triple dose | 960 mg | No better than placebo (Barry et al., JAMA 2011) |
| Protoflow label | 84.5 mg | Not studied |
PSA is a related question. NCCIH says saw palmetto does not appear to change PSA readings (NCCIH, Saw Palmetto), which is useful to know because some prostate drugs lower PSA by about half and doctors must adjust for that (NCI, PSA Test).
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See packsSafety05
Is saw palmetto safe to take?
For most adults saw palmetto is well tolerated, and its usual side effects are mild: stomach upset, dizziness and headache.
NCCIH adds that it may be unsafe in pregnancy and breastfeeding (NCCIH, Saw Palmetto). Protoflow is sold for men, so that matters less here, but the bottle will be in the house. If you take a prostate medicine such as an alpha blocker or a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, tell your doctor or pharmacist before adding any herb, because the doctor tracks your symptoms and PSA against what you take.
The bigger issue is the delay. A man who treats urinary symptoms with a herb that does not help may wait months before a check-up. An enlarged prostate is common, but the same symptoms can come from infection, bladder trouble or cancer (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)). Keep taking prescribed medicine, and have the symptoms examined.
See a doctor today
- You cannot pass urine at all, or only a few drops with a full, painful bladder
- Blood or clots in the urine
- Fever or chills with burning or painful urination
- Severe pain in the lower belly, back or genitals
- A sudden change after a fall or injury
Book an appointment
- A weak or slow stream, or stopping and starting
- Needing to go again soon after you finish
- Waking more than usual at night to urinate
- A sudden, strong urge that is hard to hold
- Dribbling after you finish
- A new erection problem, or a PSA you have not discussed
Urinary symptoms can come from an enlarged prostate, infection, diabetes, medicines, sleep apnea, and sometimes cancer. Lists drawn from NIDDK (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)) and MedlinePlus (MedlinePlus, Nocturia). A supplement cannot sort these causes out.
Around it06
What else is in the Protoflow formula besides saw palmetto?
Thirteen other lines share the panel, led by hawthorn and epimedium at 250 mg each, plus niacin at 75 mg.
The totals matter. The twelve lines without a Daily Value add up to 1,531 mg per serving, and saw palmetto is 5.5% of that. The label does not say whether any of the lines is a standardized extract. That is the first thing to ask the order desk if you want to compare the capsules with a study.
The ginkgo page covers the other herb with a bleeding caution, and niacin is the line that breaks an intake limit. For the whole panel typed out, see the supplement facts page.
FAQ07
Saw palmetto and Protoflow: questions answered
How much saw palmetto is in Protoflow?
The label lists 84.5 mg of saw palmetto per serving of two capsules. It does not say whether this is an extract, and it gives no standardization. The amount is about a quarter of the 320 mg dose used in trials.
Does saw palmetto lower PSA?
No. NCCIH says saw palmetto does not appear to change PSA readings. That differs from prostate drugs such as finasteride, which do lower PSA. Tell your doctor about any supplement before a PSA test.
Is 84.5 mg of saw palmetto enough to work?
There is no evidence of that. Trials of 320, 640 and 960 mg a day found no benefit for enlarged prostate symptoms, so a smaller dose has no better case. The blend has not been tested either.
Can I take saw palmetto with my prostate medicine?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine because of a supplement. Your clinician follows symptoms and PSA against everything you take, so they need the full list.
What side effects can saw palmetto cause?
Side effects are usually mild: digestive upset, dizziness and headache, according to NCCIH. The herb may be unsafe in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Stop and call a doctor if you have a serious reaction.
Why do so many prostate supplements list saw palmetto?
It is the best-known herb in this field, and older small studies were more positive. Larger NIH-funded trials later found no benefit alone, but the name still sells, so it stays on labels.
Who wrote this08
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized retailer of Protoflow, not by the manufacturer or the label distributor. Buying through our order links earns us money.
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