Saw palmetto berry extract comes from the ripe fruit of the Serenoa repens plant. Manufacturers standardize this extract to contain more fatty acids and sterols than you get from whole-berry powders. Your body absorbs it better when you take it with a meal that contains fat.
Men take this extract, often once or twice a day, to help maintain normal urinary function and prostate health. Taking it alongside dietary fat helps the body take in its fat-soluble compounds.
**Key cautions:** The supplement can influence hormone-sensitive tissues. Anyone with a history of prostate cancer or other hormone-sensitive conditions should talk to a healthcare provider before use. It may also raise bleeding risk, especially if you take anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel. Stop taking it at least two weeks before any scheduled surgery. Pregnant or nursing individuals should avoid this supplement.