In a study recently published for review in the Canadian Journal of Urology, supplementation with a saw palmetto extract branded as USPlus by Valensa International was associated with improvement in bladder health issues associated with enlarged prostate.

The study involved 45 healthy men with a mean age of 55 who were experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) resulting from an enlarged prostate, a condition which affects nearly 50% of men beginning in their 40s.

In the study, the participants took a daily supplement containing 320 mg of USPlus per day for 12 weeks, with mean voided volume, voiding time, and maximum flow rate measured at baseline, at week six, and at week 12. The participants were also assessed using the questionnaires International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Quality of Life score.

The authors found that participants experienced significant improvements in urinary flow measures. Sixty-five percent of men saw an improved International Prostate Symptom Score result, and 100% of men self-reported improved Quality of Life scores at 12 weeks.

There were also significant changes in IPSS sub scores of voiding (symptoms of weak stream and straining) and storage (symptoms of urgency and frequency) at week 12.

Half (50%) of men experienced a stronger stream and less straining to urinate in as little as six weeks, and 59% of men were better able to hold their urine and had less urge to urinate frequently, according to IPSS results.

These findings led the authors to conclude that the saw palmetto extract showed some promise in reducing LUTS and improving uroflowmetry parameters, especially in men with moderate symptoms at baseline.

“This study shows really promising clinical evidence for the use of standardized USP-verified saw palmetto for men suffering with BPH,” said Dr. Bilal Chughtai, lead investigator and urologist at the department of urology at Northwell Health.

“An enlarged prostate is very uncomfortable for men and can be disruptive to due to lower urinary tract symptoms and its impact on quality of life for both them and their partners,” said Umasudhan Palaniswamy, CEO of Valensa. “Living with frequent and urgent urination can even cause men to wake up repeatedly in the middle of the night to urinate which can be detrimental to their overall health, and while there are several proven pharmaceutical solutions to this issue, three-to-four million men in the U.S. who suffer from urinary and bladder health issues do not want to go that route. Instead, they want something that is natural, safe and with proven efficacy.”

“There is a $600 million market to address the urinary health of men who can benefit from a proven solution like USPlus. This latest study demonstrates the value of supplementing with USPlus to promote better urinary flow, bladder, and prostate health for men 40 years and older,” continued Palaniswamy. “It is important to note that while saw palmetto extracts are plentiful on the market, only saw palmetto oil extracts that meet the USP and EU monographs have shown consistent effectiveness in human clinical studies, unlike inexpensive crushed berry powder which has no clinical data.”

USPlus lipidosterolic extract is the first and only USP-verified saw palmetto ingredient, reported Valensa International. The company, headquartered in central Florida near a protected saw palmetto grove, promotes ecologically-friendly harvesting practices and manufacturing technologies.