An oily berry extract whose fatty acids and plant sterols slow local production of the potent testosterone derivative that enlarges the prostate and shrinks hair follicles. Tissue effects are measurable but modest, and benefit remains genuinely unsettled, depending heavily on which preparation sits inside the capsule. Tolerance is consistently good, and the prostate cancer blood marker is left untouched. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Prostate-specific antigen | Below 1.0 ng/mL before age 60; below 1.5 ng/mL thereafter | Prostate cancer surveillance and a proxy for gland volume |
| IPSS | 0–7 (mild) as the target band | The primary efficacy endpoint in every trial; tracks the symptoms that motivate use |
| Peak urinary flow rate | Above 15 mL/s | Objective counterweight to a symptom score that responds strongly to expectation |
| Post-void residual volume | Below 50 mL | Detects incomplete emptying, the finding that makes phytotherapy inappropriate |
| Total testosterone | 500–800 ng/dL | Confirms the extract is not producing systemic androgen suppression |
| Dihydrotestosterone | 30–85 ng/dL, expected to remain near the individual's own baseline | Distinguishes local tissue action from systemic androgen blockade |
| Alanine aminotransferase | Below 25 U/L in men | Screens for the rare hepatic events described in isolated reports |
Cadence: Full baseline panel before the first dose; symptom score at 4 and 12 weeks; flow and residual volume at 12 weeks; then symptom score, prostate-specific antigen, and liver enzymes every 6–12 months while use continues