title: Treatment of erectile dysfunction with pycnogenol and L-arginine.
abstract: Penile erection requires the relaxation of the cavernous smooth muscle, which is triggered by nitric oxide (NO). We investigated the possibility of overcoming erectile dysfunction (ED) by increasing the amounts of endogenous NO. For this purpose, we orally administered Pycnogenol, because it is known to increase production of NO by nitric oxide syntase together with L-arginine as substrate for this enzyme. The study included 40 men, aged 25-45 years, without confirmed organic erectile dysfunction. Throughout the 3-month trial period, patients received 3 ampoules Sargenor a day, a drinkable solution of the dipeptide arginyl aspartate (equivalent to 1.7 g L-arginine per day). During the second month, patients were additionally supplemented with 40 mg Pycnogenol two times per day; during the third month, the daily dosage was increased to three 40-mg Pycnogenol tablets. We obtained a sexual function questionnaire and a sexual activity diary from each patient. After 1 month of treatment with L-arginine, a statistically nonsignificant number of 2 patients (5%) experienced a normal erection. Treatment with a combination of L-arginine and Pycnogenol for the following month increased the number of men with restored sexual ability to 80%. Finally, after the third month of treatment, 92.5% of the men experienced a normal erection. We conclude that oral administration of L-arginine in combination with Pycnogenol causes a significant improvement in sexual function in men with ED without any side effects.
authors.affiliation: Seminological Laboratory SBALAG, Maichin Dom, Sofia, Bulgaria. rstanik@abv.bg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanislavov
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nikolova
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C024070:pycnogenols; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase