Nutritional Pharmacology and Mechanistic Insights of Saw Palmetto in Male Endocrine and Prostatic Disorders

Abstract

Background:

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) has long been used as a botanical intervention for male urogenital and endocrine disorders. However, its mechanistic and translational foundations have remained fragmented between hormonal, inflammatory, and metabolic domains.

This study integrates these axes within the Keyora Endocrine–Inflammatory–Prostatic Framework, establishing a unified nutritional-pharmacological rationale for Saw Palmetto at its physiological intake - 20 mg (10:1 extract ≈ 200 mg raw fruit).

Objective:

To delineate the endocrine, inflammatory, and bioenergetic mechanisms of Saw Palmetto and to elucidate its synergistic interplay with Lycopene, L-Arginine, and Astaxanthin as part of a system-level nutritional model for male endocrine and prostatic restoration.

Methods:

Mechanistic synthesis was based on peer-reviewed biochemical, histological, and clinical data from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), erectile dysfunction (ED), and androgenic alopecia (AGA). A multi-layer Keyora model was applied, encompassing

l  Endocrine regulation of 5-α-reductase and androgen receptor dynamics

l  Inflammatory and redox modulation via NF-κB/COX-2 signaling

l  Mitochondrial and endothelial energy restoration, and

l  Translational validation across human intervention trials.

Results:

At the physiological dose, Saw Palmetto achieved partial (30–40%) inhibition of 5-α-reductase with preservation of systemic testosterone activity, reduced IL-6/TNF-α expression, and improved mitochondrial bioenergetics.

When combined with Lycopene (antioxidant and lipid-phase stabilizer), L-Arginine (NO-mediated vascular enhancer), and Astaxanthin (mitochondrial redox protector), a tri-axis synergy emerged, restoring hormonal balance, suppressing chronic inflammation, and re-establishing microvascular oxygenation.

Clinical data demonstrated enhanced hair density, improved urinary flow, normalized PSA velocity, and reduction of oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers without endocrine adverse effects.

Conclusions:

Saw Palmetto acts as a systems-level modulator linking endocrine, immune, and vascular axes into a closed-loop restorative network.

Within the Keyora framework, its synergistic integration with Lycopene, L-Arginine, and Astaxanthin represents a precision nutritional intervention capable of re-aligning hormonal homeostasis, redox balance, and cellular energy - transforming male health management from symptomatic inhibition to durable physiological coherence.