Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of Serenoa repens extract (SR) combined with α-receptor blocker (αRB) in the treatment of BPH.
Methods: We included 7 published randomized controlled trials (RCT) studying the effect and safety of SR+αRB versus αRB monotherapy in the treatment of 1 009 BPH patients, and performed a meta-analysis on the data obtained using the RevMan 5.1.3 software.
Results: The baseline data from the RCTs were all comparable. Compared with the patients treated by αRB monotherapy, those of the SR+αRB group showed significant decreases in the total IPSS, sub-IPSS in the storage and voiding stages, quality of life score (QOL) and PSA level (all P < 0.05), an increase in the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) (P = 0.04), but no statistically significant differences in the prostate volume and postvoid residual urine volume (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Serenoa repens extract combined with α-receptor blocker is safe and effective, and even better than α-receptor blocker monotherapy, in the treatment of BPH.
Keywords: Serenoa repens extract; benign prostatic hyperplasia; efficacy; safety; α-receptor blocker; meta analysis.