Most men over 50 suffer with enlargement of the prostate gland known as benign prostate hyperplasia or hypertrophy (BPH). BPH appears to be caused by an elevation of the powerful androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and oestrogen in prostate tissue. Saw palmetto is clinically proven to treat prostate enlargement and its associated symptoms such as frequent urination, difficulty or pain when passing urine and impotence. The active fatty acids and sterols of this plant have been found to inhibit DHT's transport and binding to cell receptors, as well as reducing the activity of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme needed for oestrogen production and for conversion of testosterone to DHT.