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Head-to-head evidence comparison — which supplement is right for you?
Finasteride vs Rye Pollen Extract: Finasteride has the stronger overall evidence (5.5 vs 4.8/10); they're alternatives for prostate health — the best pick depends on your goals. Take the 60-second quiz for a pick tailored to your goals.
Finasteride wins 2 of 3 categories. Both are solid choices — the best pick depends on your specific goals.
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Verdict
Too few graded studies
Top outcomes
Shared outcomes (1)
Outcomes where both Finasteride and Rye Pollen Extract have evidence — compare verdict strength side-by-side.
1 mg once daily for male pattern hair loss (Propecia); 5 mg once daily for benign prostatic hyperplasia (Proscar). A prescription drug — use under a clinician.
Any time of day
Oral tablet (1 mg for hair, 5 mg for BPH)
2 capsules/tablets three times daily (every 8 hours), or 375-750 mg twice daily
Three divided doses per day, roughly every 8 hours, With or without food — no trial specified a meal requirement
Cernilton / Cernitin standardized rye-grass pollen extract
3-12 months to visible effect
Months to years
Throughout use; sometimes persistent
Throughout use
12-24 weeks
12-24 weeks
6-12 weeks
6-12 weeks
Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1998) · Rct · n=1553
Pivotal double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trials of finasteride 1 mg/day for male pattern hair loss
Long-term (5-year) multinational experience with finasteride 1 mg in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia.
European journal of dermatology : EJD (2002) · Rct · n=1553
Five-year placebo-controlled extension of the pivotal Phase III hair-loss trials
The impact of monotherapies for male androgenetic alopecia: A network meta-analysis study.
Journal of cosmetic dermatology (2024) · Meta analysis
Network meta-analysis of monotherapies for male androgenetic alopecia
Therapeutic efficacy of orally administered pollen for nonallergic diseases: An umbrella review.
Phytotherapy Research (2019) · Systematic review
Reviews support grass pollen extracts for symptomatic BPH and chronic prostatitis
A pollen extract (Cernilton) in patients with inflammatory chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a multicentre, randomised, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study
European Urology (2009) · Rct · n=139
139 men with NIH category IIIA CP/CPPS were randomised to pollen extract (n=70) or placebo (n=69), dosed as two capsules every 8 hours for 12 weeks.
A systematic review of Cernilton for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
BJU International (2000) · Systematic review · n=444
444 men were enrolled in two placebo-controlled and two comparative trials lasting 12-24 weeks; concealment of treatment allocation was unclear in all.
Finasteride has a higher evidence score (5.5/10 vs 4.8/10) and wins in 2 of 3 categories.
For prostate health, Rye Pollen Extract has a higher relevance score (78 vs 75).
No documented interaction was found in the data searched. This does not establish that this exact combination is safe.
The right pick depends on your goals. Answer a few quick questions for a personalised recommendation — or dig into the full evidence on each.