The dietary supplement market for women continues to steadily expand.
One market analysis reported that in 2024 the global women’s health and beauty supplements market was estimated to be $57.42 billion, with a projected CAGR of 5.25% from 2025 to 2030.1
Despite the booming dietary supplement market for women, the gap in representation between men and women in dietary supplement research remains a challenge. In an audit of literature of sports performance ingredients, just 23% were conducted only in women.2 A new study conducted on saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) takes a step towards narrowing the disparity in representation in research between men and women.
The saw palmetto berry is harvested in the southeastern region of the US from late summer to early fall.1 The botanical term for the berry is actually a drupe.2 Historically, Native Americans utilized saw palmetto as a source of food, medicine, and even shelter (whereby the leaves served as roofing).3 Building upon this long-standing tradition, researchers continue to uncover uses beneficial to health.
Most of the research has focused almost exclusively on the benefits of saw palmetto extracts for prostate health in men. However, new research points to a health benefit category that is growing in demand: women’s bladder health.
Supporting bladder health in postpartum recovery and menopause
For women, the two major life stages that can be especially challenging for bladder health are postpartum recovery and menopause. A study of 579 pregnant women found that 23% had bladder-related symptoms, while 19% experienced symptoms at one year postpartum.3
Meanwhile, a study of 397 postmenopausal women revealed that 38.79% of participants experienced bladder-related symptoms.4 Given that an estimated 6,000 women reach menopause each day in the US alone, this is a promising market opportunity.5
The large number of women undergoing menopause each day is reflected in dietary supplement market trends, too. The global menopause supplement market was estimated to be $16.96bn in 2023, with a projected size of $25.89bn by 2031.6
But now, a study conducted exclusively on aging women highlights the benefits of a novel saw palmetto extract, known as Vi-Spo®, for bladder health. Vi-Spo is manufactured by Vidya, a leading botanical extract and probiotic supplier headquartered in Bangalore, India, but with facilities also in Bunnell, Florida to ensure proximity to the saw palmetto supply chain.
The novel saw palmetto extract is produced through a combination of supercritical extraction as well as ethanol extraction to achieve a standardization of not only 85% fatty acids but also a β-sitosterol content up to 10 times that found in conventional saw palmetto extracts. To date, Vi-Spo has been the subject of three human clinical trials, covering prostate health in men and hair health benefits in both men and women.
A preclinical study was conducted to validate saw palmetto’s mechanism of action as it relates to prostate health.7 The research and development efforts have been spearheaded by the company’s founder and president, Shyamprasad Kodimule.
New study: Saw palmetto extract and women’s health
The most recent study, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (under preparation for publication) examined the effects of Vi-Spo on bladder health in women over age 50 who reported symptoms of frequent urination, nocturia, and/or urgency for at least 2 months.
Women were provided 200 milligrams of Vi-Spo or a matching placebo once daily after dinner for 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo, subjects reported a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score (CLSS) as well as a bladder-related symptom score, and health-related quality of life.
These beneficial effects on the bladder have been theorized to be related to the ability of saw palmetto to interact directly with receptors within the bladder.8
“Vidya is committed to contributing to the body of research for women’s health. This Vi-Spo study demonstrates a great step, but it won’t stop here. We will have more exciting updates to follow in this space soon,” says Steve Geiger, Vidya’s vice president of sales and operations.
Upon completion of the study, the company engaged with a leading legal firm in the dietary supplement industry to provide input on potential structure/function claims that prospective formulators could consider when developing a women’s health product incorporating Vi-Spo at the same dose seen in the clinical trial.
Potential claims include supporting bladder health, function, and comfort. Additional potential claims include supporting urinary health, normal urinary function, and normal urinary flow and frequency.
“Vidya is excited to share this new discovery with the world about the benefits of saw palmetto for women. To do so, while also providing substantiation that brands can rely upon as a foundation for marketing collateral, will spur innovation that we are looking forward to seeing in the years to come,” adds Christopher Bailey, Ph.D., Vidya’s director of technical business development.
Taken together, the findings broaden the conversation around saw palmetto beyond men’s prostate health. By pairing a standardized extract with research conducted specifically in women over 50, the study gives formulators a more relevant foundation for developing women’s bladder-health products and signals a promising new direction for an ingredient with a long-established market presence.
References
- Grand View Research. Women’s Health And Beauty Supplements Market Summary.
- Smith, E. S.; et al. Auditing the Representation of Female Versus Male Athletes in Sports Science and Sports Medicine Research: Evidence-Based Performance Supplements. Nutrients. 2022; 14(5), 953.
- Hendrickson, W.; et al. Overactive Bladder in Late Pregnancy to 1 Year After First Vaginal Delivery. Urogynecology. 2024; 30(4):p 433-442.
- J, Franklin.; et al. Prevalence of overactive bladder and associated risk factors in postmenopausal women. Inicio. 2025; 30(1).
- Society for women’s health research. Menopause.
- Verified Market Research. Menopause Supplement Market Size And Forecast.
- Sudeep, H.V.; et al. A phytosterol-enriched saw palmetto supercritical CO2 extract ameliorates testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia by regulating the inflammatory and apoptotic proteins in a rat model. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019; 19, 270.
- Hisajima, T.; et al. Clinical effect of phytosterol-enriched saw palmetto extract on urinary function in healthy middle-aged and older males: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized comparative study. Functional Foods in Health and Disease. 2024; 14(2).
