title: An improvement in sexual function is related to better quality of life, regardless of urinary function improvement: results from the IDIProst® Gold Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has recently received increased attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Alfa-5® association of Serenoa repens, Pinus massoniana Bark Extract (PMBE) and Crocus sativus (IDIProst® Gold) in improvement of patient's quality of life, when compared with Serenoa repens alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with clinical and instrumental diagnosis of LUTS due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and ED, attending 5 Italians Urological Institutions from May to December 2012 were enrolled in this prospective, multicentre, phase 3 study. Participants were assigned to receive oral capsules of IDIProst® Gold (one capsule q24 h) or Serenoa repens 320 mg (one capsule q24h) for 3 months. Clinical and instrumental analyses were carried out at the enrollment and at the end of therapy. IPSS, IIEF-5 and SF-36 questionnaires have been used. The main outcome measure was the improvement of quality of life at the end of the whole study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  129 (mean age 45-71 ± 4.36) men were randomly allocated to IDIProst® Gold (n = 83) or Serenoa repens (n = 46). The baseline questionnaire mean scores were 17.1 ± 6.4, 14.9 ± 3.7, 96.3 ± 1.2 for IPSS, IIEF-5 and SF-36, respectively. At the follow-up examination, statistically significant differences have been reported in terms of IPSS (11.9 vs 13.8; p < 0.001), IIEF-5 and SF-36 mean scores (19.3 vs 16.1; 99.7 vs 96.3; p < 0.003; p < 0.001). Moreover, statistically significant differences were then reported between the two visits, in terms of IPSS, IIEF-5 and SF-36 scores (p < 0.003; p < 0.001; p < 0.001), only in the IDIProst® Gold group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusions, we found that IDIProst® Gold significantly improve the quality of life of patients affected by LUTS due to BPH and ED, specifically in terms of sexual function, highlighting that a better sexual quality of life is correlated with an higher overall quality of life regardless of the urinary function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, Trento. ktommy@libero.it.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morgia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carrieri
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terrone
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imbimbo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verze
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mirone
mesh_terms: D027622:Crocus; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D028024:Serenoa; D019529:Sexuality / Q000502:physiology*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts