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Product Review: Prostate Supplements (Saw Palmetto and Beta-Sitosterol) |
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HOW PRODUCTS WERE EVALUATED:
How Products were Selected:
Products selected represent those commonly sold and/or available nationally in the U.S. ConsumerLab.com purchased products on the open market through retail stores, on-line retailers, catalogues, or multi-level marketing companies. Products were not accepted directly from manufacturers.
Testing Methods:
Saw palmetto products were tested for their total fatty acid and sterol content, while beta-sitosterol products were tested for their sterol content. All products were first analyzed for their respective constituents using a Gas Chromatography (GC) assay in an independent laboratory. Products not passing this initial assay were tested in a second independent laboratory utilizing a similar GC assay.
The identities of the products were not disclosed to the laboratories performing the testing.
Passing Score: *
To pass testing, a product must meet the following criteria:
Saw Palmetto
- Recommend a daily dosage on its label that would provide at least 320 mg of saw palmetto berry extract containing at least 85% fatty acids and sterols, 800 mg of a dried extract containing approximately 25% fatty acids and sterols, or one to two grams of saw palmetto berry powder.**
- Must contain a minimum of 100%, and not more than 150%, of the expected amounts of total or individual fatty acids and total or individual sterols from the berry extract based on the claimed amount of Saw Palmetto berry extract and the ratios defined below.*
| Total Fatty Acids: 85 - 95%***(%wt/wt.)(Sum of fatty acids below) |
| Individual Fatty Acids:*** |
Formula |
Percentage |
| Caproic Acid |
C6H12O2 |
1.0-3.0 |
| Caprylic Acid |
C8H16O2 |
1.0-3.0 |
| Capric Acid |
C10H20O2 |
1.0-3.0 |
| Lauric Acid |
C12H24O2 |
25.0-32.0 |
| Myristic Acid |
C14H28O2 |
10.0-15.0 |
| Palmitic Acid |
C16H32O2 |
7.0-11.0 |
| Stearic Acid |
C18H36O2 |
1.0-2.0 |
| Oleic Acid |
C18H34O2 |
26.0-35.0 |
| cis-Linoleic Acid |
C18H32O2 |
3.0-5.0 |
| Linolenic Acid |
C18H30O2 |
0.5-1.5 |
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| Total Sterols: 0.2% (%wt/wt)(sum of campesterol, stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol)*** |
| Individual Sterols:*** |
| Campesterol |
C28H48O |
0.01-0.1 |
| Stigmasterol |
C29H48O |
0.01-0.1 |
| Beta-sitosterol |
C29H50O |
0.1-0.4 |
* For products containing berry powder only and no extract, the total and individual constituents were calculated as 10% (w/w) of the extract values. For products containing 25% dried extract, the total and individual constituents were calculated as 2.9.4% (w/w) of the 85% extract values.
** Based on German Commission E monograph.
*** Based on industry specification standards. |
Beta-sitosterol Must contain a minimum of 100%, and not more than 150%, of the claimed amounts of beta-sitosterol and individual claimed sterols.
All Products:
- Meet recommended USP parameters for disintegration for vitamin supplements (excluding capsule, enteric coated, chewable and time-release products).
- Must meet FDA labeling requirements.
A "Pass" was based on meeting the above criteria in either the first or second rounds of testing.
Passing scores allow for specific margins of technical error associated with each analysis. ConsumerLab.com reserves the right to disqualify a product at any time from passing its testing if it considers such product to present a safety risk or to provide misleading or inaccurate information in its labeling.
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