Study of the efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
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.
de Andrade
Enrico
E
Sector of Sexual Medicine, Division of Urological Clinic of Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. enricoandrade@uol.com.br
de Mesquita
Alexandre A
AA
Claro
Joaquim de Almeida
Jde A
de Andrade
Priscila M
PM
Ortiz
Valdemar
V
Paranhos
Mário
M
Srougi
Miguel
M
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
D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D002784:Cholesterol