title: Effects of Korean red ginseng on semen parameters in male infertility patients: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on semen parameters in male infertility patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 80 male infertility patients with varicocele were recruited from April 2011 to February 2012. The subjects were then divided into the following four groups: non-varicocelectomy (V)+placebo (P) group, V+P group, non-V+KRG group (1.5-g KRG daily), and V+KGR group (1.5-g KRG daily). Semen analysis was performed and hormonal levels were measured in each treatment arm after 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All groups but not the non-V+P group, showed significant improvements in sperm concentrations, motility, morphology, and viability at the end of the study. However, there were no significant differences in serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone among groups. The incidence of adverse events was low, and all events were assumed to be unrelated to the treatments administered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the exact mechanism by which KRG improves spermatogenesis remains unclear, KRG may be a useful agent for the treatment of male infertility. Nevertheless, additional studies to evaluate the optimal dose and duration of treatment are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea.|Medical Research Institute of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea.|Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Trial Center, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sangmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea. joon501@pusan.ac.kr.|Medical Research Institute of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea. joon501@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Nam Cheol
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Panax ginseng; male infertility; spermatogenesis