title: Study of the efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the treatment efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in impotent men with erectile dysfunction (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 patients presenting mild or mild to moderate ED were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which the efficacies of KRG and a placebo were compared. The patients received either 1,000 mg (3 times daily) of KRG or a placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score after the treatment was significantly higher in the KRG group compared with that before the treatment (from 16.4 +/- 2.9 to 21.0 +/- 6.3, P < 0.0001). In contrast, there was no difference before and after the treatment in the placebo group (from 17.0 +/- 3.1 to 17.7 +/- 5.6, P > 0.05). In the KRG group, 20 patients (66.6%), reported improved erection, significant in the global efficacy question (P < 0.01); in the placebo group there was no significance. Scores on questions 2 (rigidity), 3 (penetration), 4 and 5 (maintenance), were significantly higher for KRG than those for the placebo when those questions were answered after 12 weeks of each treatment (P < 0.01). When the score in the KRG group was compared to the placebo group after the treatment, there was a significant improvement in total score (IIEF-5 score) in questions 3 and 5 for the KRG-treated group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The levels of serum testosterone, prolactine and cholesterol after the treatment were not statistically significant different between the KRG and the placebo group (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that KRG can be an effective alternative to the invasive approaches for treating male ED.
authors.affiliation: Sector of Sexual Medicine, Division of Urological Clinic of Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. enricoandrade@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Alexandre A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Mesquita
authors.forename: Joaquim de Almeida
authors.initials: Jde A
authors.lastname: Claro
authors.forename: Priscila M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Valdemar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paranhos
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Srougi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D002784:Cholesterol