Anything else like Saw palmetto that messes up PSA readings?

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Pat - 21 Aug 2004 22:20 GMT

Hello-

My friend had a discouraging biopsy and is seeing specialists and taking
food supplements including lycopene, selenium, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

His question is whether there are any supplements that he should avoid
because they, like saw palmetto, might artificially lower his PSA
readings?

Thank you.

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Pat
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Ed Friedman - 23 Aug 2004 19:02 GMT

> Hello-
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Thank you.

You might want to look at one urologist's extensive list of what to take
and what to avoid at:

http://www.prostatepointers.org/prostate/leibowitz/vitaminlist.10103.html

Ed Friedman

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ron - 23 Aug 2004 23:06 GMT

> Hello-
>
> His question is whether there are any supplements that he should avoid
> because they, like saw palmetto, might artificially lower his PSA
> readings?

Recent studies have indicated that Saw Palmetto does not influence PSA
readings. A study conducted by Leonard S. Marks M.D., of the
Urological Sciences Research Foundation in California reported: "We
have conducted a randomized clinical trial, presented at the Annual
Meeting of the American Urological Association last May, showing
clearly that saw palmetto does not affect the serum PSA levels (either
total, free, or % free).

Also from Dr. Marks:

Two very large studies done prior to ours (the Wilt meta-analysis
reported in J.A.M.A. and the Carraro study published in Prostate) also
showed no effect of saw palmetto on serum PSA levels...best wishes and
good health, Ron

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Ellis - 27 Aug 2004 09:03 GMT

ron wrote:

> > Hello-
> > His question is whether there are any supplements that he should avoid
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> showed no effect of saw palmetto on serum PSA levels...best wishes and
> good health, Ron

Here's a link that supports the conclusion that saw palmetto
does not affect PSA after all, contrary to previous assumptions.
-----------------------
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030315/1281.html
American Family Physician Mar 15, '03
Saw Palmetto for Prostate Disorders

ANDREA E. GORDON, M.D., and ALLEN F. SHAUGHNESSY, PHARM.D.
Harrisburg Family Practice Residency, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

"Contraindications, Adverse Effects, and Interactions
...............
There has been some concern that saw palmetto could mask prostate
cancer by lowering prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.
However, a randomized study10 of more than 1,000 patients did not
demonstrate this effect on PSA levels. The same study showed that
finasteride decreased PSA levels by 41 percent.
....................
10. Carraro JC, Raynaud JP, Koch G, Chisholm GD, Di Silverio F,
Teillac P, et al. Comparison of phytotherapy (Permixon) with
finasteride in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia:
a randomized international study of 1,098 patients.
Prostate 1996;29: 23140. "
-------------------

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