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The Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Extract for Promoting Hair Growth in Adults With Self-Perceived Thinning Hair: 180-Day Results.

Glynis Ablon
RCT Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2026
PubMed DOI CC-BY PDF
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Study Design

Loại nghiên cứu
randomized controlled trial
Cỡ mẫu
60
Thời gian
26 weeks
Can thiệp
The Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Extract for Promoting Hair Growth in Adults With Self-Perceived Thinning Hair: 180-Day Results. proprietary saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) bioactive fatty acid extract (SEREVELLE) daily; dose not s
Đối chứng
Placebo
Xu hướng hiệu quả
Positive
Nguy cơ sai lệch
Low

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hair loss remains a global concern for both men and women. AIMS: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of a proprietary extract of bioactive fatty acids from saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) for treating self-perceived thinning hair in healthy adult men and women (SEREVELLE, Valensa International; Eustis, FL). METHODS: This 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the beneficial effects of daily active treatment (n = 40) vs. placebo (n = 20) on several hair growth parameters. RESULTS: Active treatment of SEREVELLE significantly outperformed placebo on all primary endpoints at Day 180. Mean (SD) change in baseline total terminal hair count was +18.6 (29.6) with active vs. -10.1 (30.5) with placebo (p < 0.001; 283% greater improvement). Total vellus hair count increased +6.6 (15.6) vs. -2.1 (15.7) (p < 0.05; 414% greater improvement). Total hair density rose +25.1 (27.7) vs. -12.2 (38.8) (p < 0.001; 306% greater improvement). Subgroup analyses at Day 180 corroborated these advantages: across populations, between-group differences in mean change favored active for subgroup of men, with total terminal hair count (p = 0.003), total vellus hair count (p < 0.001), and total hair density (p < 0.001). In menopausal women, active produced significant placebo-adjusted gains in total terminal hair count (p < 0.05) and total hair density (p < 0.01), with a nonsignificant numerical advantage for total vellus hair count. There were no treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSION: The daily use of a proprietary saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) extract safely and effectively promotes hair growth in men and women with self-perceived thinning hair.

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Tables

TABLE 1

Active, n = 40Placebo, n = 20ALL, N = 60
Mean age, years (SD)50.6 (9.6)48.9 (10.9)50.0 (10.0)
Median age, years (min, max)55.0 (28, 63)50.5 (29, 63)52 (28, 63)
Race, n (%) n = 40 n = 20 N = 60
White36 (90)14 (70)50 (83)
Asian1 (2.5)2 (10)3 (5)
Black1 (2.5)1 (5)2 (3)
American indian/alaskan native2 (10)2 (3)
Native hawaiian/pacific islander1 (5)1 (2)
White/african american1 (2.5)1 (2)
White/african american/native american1 (2.5)1 (2)
Ethnicity, n (%) n = 40 n = 20 N = 60
Hispanic/Latino32 (80)15 (75)13 (22)
Non‐hispanic/Latino8 (20)5 (25)47 (7%)
Fitzpatrick skin type, n (%) n = 40 n = 20 N = 60
Type I6 (15)5 (25)11 (18)
Type II14 (35)4 (20)18 (30)
Type III12 (30)5 (25)17 (28)
Type IV6 (15)5 (25)11 (18)
Type V2 (5)2 (4)
Type VI1 (5)1 (2)
Norwood classification scale (male subjects), n (%) n = 20 n = 10 N = 30
II1 (5)1 (10)2 (7)
III8 (40)7 (70)15 (50)
III Vertex11 (55)2 (20)13 (43)
Savin pictoral scale (female subjects), n (%) n = 20 n = 10 N = 30
1–215 (75)7 (70)22 (73)
1–35 (25)3 (30)8 (27)

TABLE 2

Active treatment, n = 40Placebo, n = 20
Day 0Day 180Day 0Day 180
Anterior terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)132.9 (29.2)138.5 (30.1)131.8 (30.7)129.3 (29.1)
Median (min, max)134.5 (60, 202)136 (84, 214)137.5 (85, 199)136 (74, 168)
Change (SD)5.5 (23.8)−2.5 (22.8)
Posterior terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)167.1 (32.9)180.1 (40.2) a , b 175.2 (34.5)167.6 (31.5)
Median (min, max)168 (100, 233)180 (80, 260)175 (123, 246)165.5 (118, 220)
Change (SD)13.0 (22.4)−7.6 (18.4)
Total terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)300.0 (46.1)318.6 (48.5) a , b 306.9 (59.6)296.8 (55.8)
Median (min, max)302.5 (185, 426)305.0 (244, 459)307.5 (212, 420)300.0 (193, 388)
Change (SD)18.6 (29.6)–10.1 (30.5)
Anterior vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)10.8 (9.5)14.4 (12.1) c 14.9 (10.9)11.1 (9.4)
Median (min, max)8 (0, 37)10 (0, 51)14 (0, 35)9 (0, 43)
Change (SD)3.6 (11.3)−3.9 (13.1)
Posterior vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)4.8 (6.6)7.8 (7.3) d 3.5 (3.1)5.3 (5.8)
Median (min, max)1 (0, 29)6 (0, 26)3 (0, 11)3 (0, 17)
Change (SD)3.0 (7.7)1.7 (6.8)
Total vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)15.5 (13.8)22.1 (15.0) c 18.4 (11.7)16.3 (13.1)
Median (min, max)11.5 (0, 55)20.0 (0, 57)18.0 (0, 41)14.5 (0, 57)
Change (SD)6.6 (15.6)–2.1 (15.7)
Anterior total hair density
Mean (SD)143.7 (28.0)152.9 (32.6) c 146.7 (33.3)140.3 (27.7)
Median (min, max)146.5 (66, 206)154 (87, 220)142 (98, 222)149.5 (83, 174)
Change (SD)9.2 (21.6)−6.3 (28.4)
Posterior total hair counts
Mean (SD)171.9 (35.4)187.9 (39.0) a , b 178.7 (33.3)172.8 (32.3)
Median (min, max)171 (100, 246)194 (106, 269)178 (130, 249)174 (125, 227)
Change (SD)16.0 (21.9)−5.8 (20.5)
Total hair counts
Mean (SD)315.6 (48.9)340.7 (51.0) a , b 325.3 (60.5)313.1 (5.7)
Median (min, max)318.0 (191, 452)344.0 (255, 471)317.50 (239, 436)313.5 (208, 394)
Change (SD)25.1 (27.7)−12.2 (38.8)

TABLE 3

Active treatment, n = 40Placebo, n = 20
Day 0Day 180Day 0Day 180
Anterior terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)144.4 (25.7)150.5 (30.2)139.3 (35.0)131.4 (32.6)
Median (min, max)147.0 (91, 202)142.0 (107, 214)137.5 (97, 199)138 (74, 168)
Posterior terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)151.8 (33.17)159.3 (37.8) a 181.9 (38.7)164.8 (38.0)
Median (min, max)148.5 (100, 233)155.5 (80, 245)184.5 (123, 246)165.5 (118, 220)
Total terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)296.2 (48.4)309.9 (52.5) b 321.2 (66.7)296.2 (65.1)
Median (min, max)292.0 (222, 426)289.5 (250, 459)324.5 (222, 420)292.5 (193, 388)
Anterior vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)7.1 (7.7)15.1 (12.4)11.2 (11.4)7.1 (5.8)
Median (min, max)5.0 (0, 30)11.0 (0, 51)6.0 (0, 31)6.0 (0, 17)
Posterior vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)4.2 (5.0)10.4 (7.8) a , d 4.7 (3.0)3.7 (4.1)
Median (min, max)2.5 (0, 14)9.0 (0, 26)4.0 (0, 11)3.0 (0, 14)
Total vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)11.3 (11.2)25.5 (15.4) e , f 15.9 (12.9)10.8 (8.0)
Median (min, max)9.5 (0, 44)21.5 (0, 57)11.5 (0, 38)10.5 (0, 22)
Anterior total hair counts
Mean (SD)151.5 (24.4)165.7 (30.3) c 150.5 (40.6)138.5 (31.2)
Median (min, max)149.5 (115, 206)160.0 (122, 220)150.5 (105, 222)138.5 (83, 174)
Posterior total hair counts
Mean (SD)156.0 (34.3)169.7 (37.5) f 186.6 (37.4)168.5 (36.5)
Median (min, max)157.5 (100, 246)168.5 (106, 251)188.5 (134, 249)167.0 (125, 223)
Total hair counts
Mean (SD)307.6 (50.5)335.4 (56.0) f 337.1 (69.8)307.0 (63.1)
Median (min, max)308.0 (233, 452)328.5 (267, 471)335.0 (239, 436)302.0 (208, 394)

TABLE 4

Active treatment, n = 40Placebo, n = 20
Day 0Day 180Day 0Day 180
Anterior terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)128.6 (23.7)130.0 (22.9)120.6 (26.2)115.8 (30.4)
Median (min, max)128.0 (82, 169)130.0 (87, 168)126.0 (88, 147)102.0 (83, 156)
Posterior terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)185.8 (23.9)204.8 (31.5) a , b 169.6 (43.5)164.8 (33.3)
Median (min, max)194.0 (142, 220)210.0 (142, 260)159.0 (124, 236)165.0 (123, 210)
Total terminal hair counts
Mean (SD)314.4 (34.2)334.8 (38.9) c 290.2 (68.1)280.6 (±59.6)
Median (min, max)321.0 (252, 375)342.0 (272, 380)285.0 (212, 383)267.0 (222, 349)
Anterior vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)13.6 (9.8)14.4 (11.9)24.2 (10.0)13.2 (2.5)
Median (min, max)12.0 (0, 37)11.0 (0, 43)20.0 (15, 35)14.0 (9, 16)
Posterior vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)5.4 (8.8)5.8 (6.2)2.8 (2.7)6.8 (6.4)
Median (min, max)0.0 (0, 29)6.0 (0, 23)3.0 (0, 6.0)6.0 (0, 17)
Total vellus hair counts
Mean (SD)19.0 (15.6)20.2 (14.5)27.0 (10.2)20.0 (4.8)
Median (min, max)13.0 (0, 55)15.0 (0, 52)20.0 (19, 41)22.0 (14, 26)
Anterior total hair counts
Mean (SD)142.2 (23.1)144.5 (24.6) c 144.8 (27.8)129.0 (29.4)
Median (min, max)145.0 (96, 178)153.0 (95, 179)141.0 (115, 182)115.0 (97, 170)
Posterior total hair counts
Mean (SD)191.3 (28.9)210.6 (32.4) c , d 172.4 (41.2)171.6 (38.4)
Median (min, max)194.0 (142, 238)210.0 (145, 269)164.0 (130, 236)168.0 (129, 227)
Total hair counts
Mean (SD)333.5 (34.8)355.1 (36.3) e 317.2 (68.1)300.6 (63.0)
Median (min, max)334.0 (266, 381)357.0 (188, 407)305.0 (253, 418)283.0 (242, 375)

TABLE 5

Sum of hair widthActive treatment, n = 40Placebo, n = 20
Anterior sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)8972.6 (1898)9408 (1944)8861 (2027)8719 (2174)
Posterior sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)11894.4 (2838)12 744 (2698) a , b 12710.1 (2698)12312.8 (2671)
Total sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)20867.1 (3474)22152.1 (3709) b , c 21571.2 (4120)21032.8 (4405)
Follicular units Active treatment Placebo
Anterior follicular units Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)114.2 (22.0)117.5 (22.4)115.8 (32.6)111.1 (24.7)
Posterior follicular units Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)113.1 (26.4)117.2 (28.3)118.1 (25.7)115.5 (27.1)
Total follicular units Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)227.4 (40.4)234.7 (37.2) d 233.9 (54.9)226.7 (47.3)

TABLE 6

Sum of hair widthActive treatment, n = 40Placebo, n = 20
Anterior sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)9703.9 (1985)10107.3 (1953)9322.0 (2133)8510.7 (2325)
Posterior sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)10484.0 (2617)10939.6 (3058) a 12746.6 (2981)11608.1 (2813)
Total sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)20187.9 (3695)21046.9 (3970) b 22068.6 (4360)20118.8 (4759)
Follicular units Active Treatment Placebo
Anterior follicular units Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)112.5 (19.7)117.6 (21.5)117.4 (43.3)110.7 (29.1)
Posterior follicular units Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)99.1 (18.8)104.9 (25.6)124.9 (29.5)112.1 (31.5)
Total follicular units Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)211.7 (33.9)222.5 (37.0) c 242.3 (69.3)222.8 (58.7)

TABLE 7

Sum of hair widthActive treatment, n = 40Placebo, n = 20
Anterior sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)8478.8 (1443)8750.4 (1834)7970.4 (1461)7553.8 (1629)
Posterior sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)13494.6 (2332)14606.6 (2336)12692.8 (3339)12782.0 (3439)
Total sum of hair width Day 0 Day 180 Day 0 Day 180
Mean (SD)21973.4 (3006)23357.0 (3279) a 20663.2 (4755)20335.8 (4875.5)

TABLE 8

RatingDescription
7Greatly Increased/Improved
6Moderately Increased/Improved
5Slightly Increased/Improved
4No change
3Slightly Decreased/Worsened
2Moderately Decreased/Worsened
1Greatly Decreased/Worsened

TABLE 9

Active(n = 40)Placebo(n = 20)
Hair quality, n (%) a
Greatly improved1 (2.5)
Moderately improved12 (30)
Slightly improved19 (47.5)6 (30)
No change4 (10)9 (45)
Slightly worsened4 (10)4 (20)
Moderately worsened1 (5)
Greatly worsened
Hair growth, n (%) b
Greatly increased
Moderately increased8 (20)1 (5)
Slightly increased20 (50)4 (20)
No change6 (15)7 (35)
Slightly decreased6 (15)6 (30)
Moderately decreased2 (10)
Greatly decreased

TABLE 10

Hair/skin characteristic, n (%)Active (n = 40)Placebo (n = 20)
Day 56Day 90Day 180Day 56Day 90Day 180
Hair shedding17 (42.5)16 (40)19 (47.5)11 (55)13 (65)14 (70)
Overall hair growth20 (50)28 (70)28 (70)9 (45)10 (50)13 (65)
Overall hair volume13 (32.5)22 (55)27 (67.5)5 (25)10 (50)12 (60)
Scalp coverage15 (37.5)21 (52.5)24 (60)4 (20)9 (45)9 (45)
Hair thickness15 (37.5)17 (42.5)25 (62.5)5 (25)7 (35)7 (35)
Hair fullness18 (45)19 (47.5)25 (62.5)5 (25)7 (35)11 (55)
Hair quality12 (30)25 (62.5)21 (52.5)7 (35)9 (45)11 (55)
Hair shine/gloss11 (27.5)17 (42.5)14 (35)5 (25)8 (40)9 (45)
Hair strength18 (45)22 (55)19 (47.5)8 (40)10 (50)11 (55)
Hair softness16 (40)22 (55)14 (35)6 (30)6 (30)10 (50)
Amount of noticeable new hair14 (35)22 (55)25 (62.5)4 (20)10 (50)12 (60)
Hair growth rate17 (42.5)22 (55)23 (57.5)4 (2)10 (50)13 (65)
Hair growth on top of head17 (42.5)21 (52.5)26 (65)6 (30)10 (50)8 (40)
Hair growth of hairline13 (32.5)13 (32.5)19 (47.5)4 (20)8 (40)11 (55)
Hair length14 (35)20 (50)23 (57.5)5 (25)7 (35)9 (45)
Ease of styling11 (27.5)13 (32.5)14 (35)5 (25)5 (25)5 (25)
Hair Moisture12 (30)15 (37.5)13 (32.5)9 (45)5 (25)5 (25)
Overall hair appearance18 (45)22 (55)24 (60)12 (60)11 (55)12 (60)
Growth of eyebrow hair8 (20)14 (35)14 (35)20 (100)4 (20)4 (20)
Thickness of eyebrow hair7 (17.5)13 (32.5)14 (35)20 (100)20 (100)4 (20)
Growth of eyelash hair2 (5)6 (15)5 (12.5)1 (5)1 (5)3 (15)
Thickness of eyelashes1 (2.5)4 (10)3 (7.5)1 (5)1 (5)3 (15)
Skin smoothness and fine lines4 (10)6 (15)4 (10)6 (30)4 (20)6 (30)
Overall skin health5 (12.5)4 (10)4 (10)5 (25)6 (30)8 (40)

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