Ginseng for erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Background Dietary supplements with ginseng, or ginseng alone, are widely used for a broad range of conditions, including erectile dysfunction. Ginseng is particularly popular in Asian countries. Individual studies assessing its effects are mostly small, of uneven methodological quality and have unclear results. Objectives To assess the effects of ginseng on erectile dysfunction. Search methods We conducted systematic searches on multiple electronic databases, including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, and loco‐regional databases of east Asia, from their inceptions to 30 January 2021 without restrictions on language and publication status. Handsearches included conference proceedings. Selection criteria We included randomized or quasi‐randomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of any type of ginseng as a treatment for erectile dysfunction compared to placebo or conventional treatment. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently classified studies and three authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias in the included studies. We rated the certainty of evidence according to the GRADE approach. Main results We included nine studies with 587 men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, aged from 20 to 70 years old. The studies all compared ginseng to placebo. We found only short‐term follow‐up data (up to 12 weeks). Primary outcomes Ginseng appears to have a trivial effect on erectile dysfunction when compared to placebo based on the Erectile Function Domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)‐15 instrument (scale: 1 to 30, higher scores imply better function; mean difference [MD] 3.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79 to 5.25; I² = 0%; 3 studies; low certainty evidence) assuming a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of 4. Ginseng probably also has a trivial effect on erectile function when compared to placebo based on the IIEF‐5 instrument (scale: 1 to 25, higher scores imply better function; MD 2.39, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.88; I² = 0%; 3 studies; moderate certainty evidence) assuming a MCID of 5. Ginseng may have little to no effect on adverse events compared to placebo (risk ratio [RR] 1.45, 95% CI 0.69 to 3.03; I² = 0%; 7 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 86 adverse events per 1000 men in the placebo group, this would correspond to 39 more adverse events per 1000 (95% CI 27 fewer to 174 more). Secondary outcomes Ginseng may improve men's self‐reported ability to have intercourse (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.69; I² = 23%; 6 studies; low certainty evidence). Based on 207 per 1000 men self‐reporting the ability to have intercourse in the placebo group, this would correspond to 321 more men (95% CI 158 more to 558 more) per 1000 self‐reporting the ability to have intercourse. ...

Ginseng and health outcomes: an umbrella review

“…Subsequently, 719 records were excluded after reviewing the titles and abstracts. The full-texts of the remaining 81 records were evaluated, and 19 studies ( Jang et al, 2008 ; Seida et al, 2011 ; Bach et al, 2016 ; Duan et al, 2018 ; Ghorbani and Mirghafourvand, 2019 ; Mohammadi et al, 2019 ; Saboori et al, 2019 ; Antonelli et al, 2020 ; Ghavami et al, 2020 ; Miraghajani et al, 2020 ; Lee et al, 2021 ; Sha’ari et al, 2021 ; Zhu et al, 2021 ; Ikeuchi et al, 2022 ; Lee et al, 2022 ; Luo and Huang, 2022 ; Naseri et al, 2022 ; Park et al, 2022 ; Zhu et al, 2022 ) were involved in the final analysis. The flow chart for the study selection process is shown in Figure 1 .…”

“…These studies were published in peer-reviewed journals in eight geographical regions, including five studies each from Korea ( Jang et al, 2008 ; Bach et al, 2016 ; Lee et al, 2021 ; Lee et al, 2022 ; Park et al, 2022 ) and Iran ( Ghorbani and Mirghafourvand, 2019 ; Mohammadi et al, 2019 ; Saboori et al, 2019 ; Ghavami et al, 2020 ; Miraghajani et al, 2020 ); four from China ( Duan et al, 2018 ; Zhu et al, 2021 ; Luo and Huang, 2022 ; Zhu et al, 2022 ); and one each from Italy ( Antonelli et al, 2020 ), Canada ( Seida et al, 2011 ), Japan ( Ikeuchi et al, 2022 ), Australia ( An et al, 2011 ), and Malaysia ( Sha’ari et al, 2021 ). Eight studies had registered their protocols prior to publication ( Antonelli et al, 2020 ; Lee et al, 2021 ; Sha’ari et al, 2021 ; Zhu et al, 2021 ; Ikeuchi et al, 2022 ; Lee et al, 2022 ; Luo and Huang, 2022 ; Park et al, 2022 ). The RCTs number involved in every meta-analysis varied between two and 28, and the total number of participants ranged between 123 and 2,503.…”

“…Frontiers in Pharmacology frontiersin.org Ghavami et al, 2020;Miraghajani et al, 2020;Lee et al, 2021;Sha'ari et al, 2021;Ikeuchi et al, 2022;Lee et al, 2022;Luo and Huang, 2022;Naseri et al, 2022;Park et al, 2022;Zhu et al, 2022), whereas two focused on eligible combinations (such as with usual medication) (Duan et al, 2018;Zhu et al, 2021). Most studies reported the type of ginseng, which mainly included Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng, Panax quinquefolius, and red ginseng.…”

Effect of Carob and Ginseng Supplements on Semen Analysis Parameters, Sexual Function, and Sex Hormones in Infertile Men: Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial Study

“…Lee et al . [ 27 ] conducted a systematic review study in 2021, which found that Ginseng has a noteworthy impact on enhancing male sexual function, specifically in orgasm and sexual satisfaction. In our study on the comparison of other areas of IIEF between the three groups, such as sexual satisfaction, erectile function, and overall satisfaction, no statistically significant difference was observed.…”

The mechanism of microglia-mediated immune inflammation in ischemic stroke and the role of natural botanical components in regulating microglia: A review

“…(3) Ginsenosides: Ginsenoside is a steroid compound, also known as triterpenoid saponins, which mainly exists in Panax L ( 332 ). The experimental results showed that Ginsenoside inhibited the formation of lipid peroxide in the brain and liver, reduced the content of lipofuscin in the cerebral cortex and liver, and also increased the content of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the blood ( 333 , 334 ). In addition, some monomer saponins in Ginsenoside such as rb1, rb2, rd, rc, re, rg1, rg2, rh1, etc.can reduce the content of free radicals in the body to varying degrees.…”