Ingredient profile
Nettle Leaf in Vapofil: Why the Leaf Is Not the Root That Was Studied
Vapofil prints 20 mg of nettle leaf extract per two capsules. The men's health research on stinging nettle used the root, and WebMD notes that leaves and roots hold different chemicals (WebMD: Stinging nettle). The best-known root trial found testosterone unchanged (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH). So neither the prostate results nor the sales page's free-testosterone claim carries over to Vapofil's leaf.
Written by the Vapofil editorial teamUpdated
The basics
What is nettle leaf, and how much is in Vapofil?
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is a common weed with tiny hairs that sting bare skin. Vapofil lists "Nettle Leaf Extract" at 20 mg per two-capsule serving.
The word "leaf" is the key detail. Nettle supplements are usually made from the root, and most research used the root (WebMD: Stinging nettle). Leaves and roots of the same plant carry different chemicals, so results from one part cannot be moved to the other.
Nettle leaf has a long folk history for hay fever and sore joints. It was not picked for men's hormones by researchers. The label gives no extract strength, so 20 mg is the only figure to judge.
It shares its 20 mg with three other herbs on the panel, including saw palmetto. All seven printed amounts add up to 118 mg.
Leaf or root
Is nettle leaf the same as nettle root?
No. WebMD says nettle leaves and flowers contain different chemicals from the roots, and that most nettle research used roots (WebMD: Stinging nettle).
| Question | Nettle root | Nettle leaf (in Vapofil) |
|---|---|---|
| Part used in most supplements | Yes | Less common |
| Studied for prostate symptoms | Yes, in several trials | Not published |
| Studied for testosterone | Measured in one large trial: unchanged | Not published |
| RxList rating for BPH | Insufficient evidence to rate | Not rated for BPH |
| Amount in Vapofil | None | 20 mg per two capsules |
Labels sometimes say only "nettle extract". Vapofil's label is specific, which is to its credit. It just names the part that the research did not use.
The research
What did the 2005 nettle root trial find?
It found better urinary symptoms in men with an enlarged prostate. In the 2005 Safarinejad trial, 81% of 287 men on nettle root improved, against 16% of 271 men on placebo (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH).
- Six months, double-blind
620 men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) took nettle root or a dummy pill. Neither they nor the researchers knew which (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH).
- Results at six months
Symptom scores, urine flow and leftover urine all improved more on nettle. The prostate shrank modestly, and the author reported no harms (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH).
- Up to 18 months
Men on placebo who still had symptoms could switch to nettle, and the trial followed them further (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH).
- Hormones
PSA and testosterone did not change (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH).
It used the root, not the leaf. It tested nettle alone, not a seven-herb capsule. It was a single-author, single-center study, and the author himself asked for trials to confirm it (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH). RxList still rates nettle for BPH as "insufficient evidence" (RxList: Stinging nettle).
At a glance
Nettle in Vapofil, in five numbers
The sales claim
Does nettle free up testosterone by binding SHBG?
No study we could find shows it in people. The Vapofil sales page ties nettle to SHBG and says the formula helps "release more free testosterone". The idea is that nettle ties up SHBG, a blood protein that holds testosterone.
Here is how that works in theory. Most testosterone in the blood is bound to SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin). Only the unbound part, called free testosterone, acts directly on tissues. If something blocked SHBG, more would be free.
The trouble is the evidence. The large root trial measured testosterone and found no change (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH). None of our sources reports a human study in which nettle leaf changed SHBG or free testosterone. The leaf also lacks the root's chemistry (WebMD: Stinging nettle).
Low testosterone is a diagnosis, not a feeling. It takes two morning blood tests below 300 ng/dL plus symptoms, per the Urology Care Foundation (Urology Care: Low testosterone).
Side effects
What are the side effects of nettle?
Mostly stomach complaints. WebMD lists constipation or diarrhea and upset stomach, and rarely a severe allergic reaction (WebMD: Stinging nettle).
- RxList calls nettle possibly safe for up to two years, with stomach upset and sweating as the usual complaints (RxList: Stinging nettle).
- Nettle acts like a mild water pill, which explains some of its medicine interactions (RxList: Stinging nettle).
- RxList says it is likely unsafe in pregnancy and calls for care with kidney problems or low blood pressure (RxList: Stinging nettle).
These reports come from full doses, usually of the root. At 20 mg of leaf, a reaction is less likely, but not ruled out. The other ingredients' effects are on the Vapofil side effects page.
Medicines
Which medicines interact with nettle?
Lithium, diabetes and blood pressure medicines, warfarin and sedatives top the list. RxList rates each of these as a moderate interaction (RxList: Stinging nettle), and WebMD adds water pills and prostate medicines (WebMD: Stinging nettle).
| Medicine | What could happen | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lithium | Nettle's water-pill effect may raise lithium levels | RxList |
| Diabetes medicines | Blood sugar may drop too low | RxList |
| Blood pressure medicines | Blood pressure may drop too far | RxList |
| Warfarin | Nettle contains vitamin K, which works against warfarin | RxList |
| Sedatives | Added drowsiness | RxList |
| Water pills (diuretics) | Extra fluid loss | WebMD |
| Alpha-blockers: tamsulosin, doxazosin, prazosin, alfuzosin | Use caution together | WebMD |
| Other prostate supplements | Use caution together | WebMD |
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting Vapofil. Its sarsaparilla also has a lithium caution (RxList: Sarsaparilla), so two of its herbs point the same way.
Our view
Is the nettle leaf in Vapofil worth anything?
We see no reason to expect a men's health effect from it. The part, the dose and the claim all miss the research.
Pros
- The label names the plant part clearly
- Amount printed: 20 mg
- Usually mild side effects
Cons
- Leaf, while the research used root
- Even root left testosterone unchanged
- No human SHBG or free-testosterone data
- Interacts with lithium, diabetes and blood pressure medicines
See how it sits beside the other six on the Vapofil ingredients overview.
| Label name | Nettle Leaf Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Urtica dioica leaf · Leaf extract |
| Position on the label | Printed with its own amount |
| Amount per serving (2 capsules) | 20 mg, printed |
| Amount used in research | Prostate and hormone studies used the root, not the leaf |
| Strength of evidence | Leaf not studied for men's health |
| Why it is used | Stinging nettle; the leaf is used for hay fever and joints |
| Main caution | May interact with lithium, diabetes and blood pressure medicines and warfarin. |
FAQ
Nettle leaf in Vapofil: common questions
Which part of the nettle plant does Vapofil contain?
The leaf: the label prints "Nettle Leaf Extract" at 20 mg per two capsules. That matters because most nettle research, including the prostate trials, used the root, and the two parts hold different chemicals (WebMD: Stinging nettle).
Can stinging nettle cause an allergic reaction?
Rarely, but it can. WebMD lists severe allergic reactions as a rare side effect of nettle, alongside more common stomach upset, constipation or diarrhea (WebMD: Stinging nettle). Get emergency care for swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing.
What is SHBG, and can nettle lower it?
SHBG, or sex hormone-binding globulin, is a blood protein that holds testosterone so it cannot act. The claim that nettle frees testosterone by tying up SHBG lacks human proof; the big root trial saw no testosterone change (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH), and leaf was never tested.
Is nettle root good for an enlarged prostate?
One large trial suggested it may ease symptoms. In 2005, 81% of men on nettle root improved versus 16% on placebo (Safarinejad 2005: Nettle for BPH), but it came from a single center, and RxList still calls the evidence insufficient (RxList: Stinging nettle). See a doctor for urinary symptoms first.
Does nettle act like a water pill?
Yes, mildly. RxList says that effect is why nettle may raise lithium levels, a moderate interaction (RxList: Stinging nettle). Vapofil's sarsaparilla carries the same warning (RxList: Sarsaparilla), so the formula gives two reasons for caution with lithium.
Is nettle safe with blood pressure or diabetes medicine?
It may not be. RxList lists moderate interactions with both: blood pressure could drop too far, and blood sugar could fall too low (RxList: Stinging nettle). The amount in Vapofil is small, but show the label to your doctor or pharmacist before you start.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the bottle label, the order page and linked public health sources such as NIH, FDA and CDC.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a licensed U.S. retail desk for Vapofil, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Vapofil
Saw palmetto
20 mg of saw palmetto: 1/16 of a trial dose that already failed to beat placebo, with a bleeding caution.
Read moreIngredients
Seven Vapofil label amounts, 118 mg in all, measured against trial doses and typical products, one ingredient at a time.
Read more
Side effects
Ingredient side effects, heart and bleeding flags, lithium and digoxin interactions, and the signs that need emergency care.
Read moreLicensed U.S. retail desk for Vapofil
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