Preparaten van de bessen van de zaagpalm of dwergpalm (Saw palmetto, Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulata) worden al eeuwen gebruikt bij mannenkwalen zoals lagere-urinewegklachten door goedaardige prostaatvergroting, prostatitis en impotentie/erectiele dysfunctie. Belangrijke medicinale inhoudsstoffen in zaagpalmextract zijn vrije vetzuren (zoals laurinezuur, oliezuur en myristinezuur), fytosterolen (bèta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol) en bioflavonoïden.
Zaagpalmextract kan de bloedingstijd verlengen door remming van bloedplaatjesaggregatie en theoretisch interacteren met antistollingsmedicijnen en plaatjesremmers.
Zaagpalmextract wordt zeer goed verdragen en de veiligheid van het bessenextract is aangetoond in diverse dierstudies en humane studies. In humane studies zijn geen significante bijwerkingen waargenomen bij mannen die tot drie jaar lang dagelijks zaagpalmextract hebben ingenomen. Voor de zekerheid wordt aangeraden vanaf 2 weken voorafgaande aan een operatie geen zaagpalmextract te gebruiken omdat zaagpalmextract mogelijk de aggregatie van bloedplaatjes remt.
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