Saw Palmetto is it Anabolic Or Catabolic

[shadow5788]

Below I have sources for and against saw palmetto as being anabolic or anti-catabolic and others that say catabolic.

what is the real deal if I take say 1,200mg tribulus with 500mg saw palmetto and 25mg dhea is this good or will the saw palmetto counter it's effects.
read the snips below for why I ask this question

http://www.muscleenhancers.com/bodyb...ment-bible.htm

Says: Ya --- This is herb that was first used to help protect the prostrate for men. Now it was found that it is also anti-estrogenic (Blocks the harmful female hormone estrogen). Which may help in making androstene last longer in your system. Saw Palmetto has also been found to treat acne into some cases.
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http://www.neurosci.pharm.utoledo.ed.../androgens.htm
Says: Ya ----
Extracts of Saw palmetto contain phyosterols that reportedly inhibit 5 a-reductase activity. Saw palmetto extracts may be beneficial in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other studies report that Saw palmetto extracts inhibit alpha-adrenergic receptors, suggesting a mechanism of action similar to doxazosin.

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http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/sawpalme.htm
Says: Ya --- Anabolic
It is one of the few Western remedies that is considered to be anabolic, that is, strengthens and builds body tissues while encouraging weight gain. It is often given to those suffering from wasting disorders and failure to thrive. As a tonic, an infusion with two teaspoons each of saw palmetto and horsetail, one teaspoon of licorice root, and 200 ml water can be divided and taken twice a day.
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Note Many Test Supplements Use It
http://www.anabolicsmall.com/
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http://www.trygve.com/supplement_faq.html#sawpalmetto
Says Nah
Those lifters who are not concerned with either of the above problems should avoid the use of saw palmetto (assuming it's real) because an antiandrogenic effect is the last thing a natural lifter would want.
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http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/gastelu21.htm

Says: Nay ---often scratch my head in bewilderment when I see saw palmetto used in muscle building products. Saw palmetto is a popular prostate health herbal supplement that works for its "anti-anabolic" activity.

In the prostate gland, testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to exert its primary anabolic and androgenic effects. One thing DHT does is stimulate prostate cells to grow. As a man ages, an imbalance can occur, that is, too much DHT, and the prostate becomes enlarged.

What Do Anabolic And Androgenic Mean?
Anabolic refers to the metabolic process that is characterized by molecular growth, such as the increase of muscle mass. Thus, it means "muscle-building" in most common bodybuilding contexts.

Androgenic refers to hormones (like testosterone) that control the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics.


This usually starts to occur at age 50, and the condition that develops is called BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia).

BPH primarily develops in the part of the prostate directly adjacent to the urethra, compared to carcinoma of the prostate, which develops in the peripheral parts of the prostate. This is why BPH is usually associated with urination problems, as the enlarged prostate tissues interfere with the flow of urine in the urethra.

Some of the bioactive substances in saw palmetto extracts inhibit the enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) that is responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT. This reduction in DHT in the prostate gland, reverses the overgrowth of prostate cells.



In experimental animals given saw palmetto it was observed by researchers that the size and weight of their genital organs were smaller when compared to animals that did not receive saw palmetto.

Some of these animal research studies indicated potential anti-fertility effects of saw palmetto. Saw palmetto taking animals also had a reduction of total body weight.

In humans, studies of young muscle building people taking saw palmetto supplements are rare, however, one well designed research study of resistance training young men determined no muscle or strength building effects from taking saw palmetto containing supplements, along with other supposedly anabolic supplements.

It is very important for young, developing males to consider avoiding the use of saw palmetto supplements, especially during puberty and early adulthood while their gonads are under peak development.

Finally, saw palmetto does not increase total testosterone in the body or free testosterone. The bioactive substances in saw palmetto may actually interfere with the function of testosterone by blocking the androgenic and anabolic receptor sites of cells that testosterone needs to bind with to turn on cellular protein synthesis.

Saw Palmetto may actually interfere
with the function of testosterone.

Tests using tissue samples revealed that substances in saw palmetto actually reduced the tissue uptake of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, which means saw palmetto bioactives blocked these anabolic hormones from entering cells, which is very anti-anabolic.

So, while saw palmetto is very useful and effective for people who have BPH, it should be avoided when people who are training to be super-anabolic.

Other prostate health herbs with similar anti-anabolic actions include stinging nettle and pygeum. Consider using these supplements for prostate health concerns later in life.

[TrojanFan15]

Great review.

[back2it]

I have read similar conflicting reports on this herb . It makes you wonder who pays for these studies because coming to an almost opposite conclusion . Did a drug company with a competing patentable product pay for the negative study and/or did the supplement industry fund the positive one ?

[shadow5788]

I posted this thread to get more information on if saw palmetto is anabolic or not. I haven't found a answer yet and hope maybe a medical student or someone with more knowledge could add their two cents.

one conclusion I have came to, just guessing is maybe saw palmetto regulates test / estrogen hormones so if your already low it may help and if it's high it may bring it down this may explain the diffrent studies.

One reason I think that saw palmetto may lower test is that in studies animals have had lower testicle weight after supplementing with saw.

and animals have had a increase in testicle size with tribulus.

[cinder88]

S.P. is often recomended to males with larger prostates, or prostate cancer patients.

It would makes sence that S.P. primary function is to lower test in the body. And help to shrink the prostate, or bring it down to a normal size.

I think some of the studies showing that it increases test , or has some function to body building.Is probably funded by a third party with financial interest to market S.P. a specific way.

IMO

[Most Muscular]

In experimental animals given saw palmetto it was observed by researchers that the size and weight of their genital organs were smaller when compared to animals that did not receive saw palmetto.

I don't think I'd like this job...

nuff said...