Ginseng for erectile dysfunction.

Area of Science:

• Integrative medicine and sexual health research.
• Clinical trial analysis of herbal supplements.

Background:

• Ginseng is a popular herbal supplement used for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction (ED).
• Existing studies on ginseng for ED are limited by small sample sizes and variable quality, yielding unclear results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
• Searches across multiple databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, etc.) up to January 2021.
• Data extraction and risk of bias assessment by multiple authors, with evidence certainty rated using the GRADE approach.

Main Results:

• Nine studies involving 587 men with mild to moderate ED were included, all comparing ginseng to placebo.
• Ginseng showed a trivial effect on erectile function (IIEF-15 and IIEF-5 scores) and intercourse satisfaction, with low to moderate certainty evidence.
• A potential improvement in self-reported ability to have intercourse was noted (low certainty evidence), with minimal impact on adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Ginseng demonstrates likely trivial effects on erectile function and intercourse satisfaction compared to placebo, based on low certainty evidence.
• While ginseng may enhance self-reported intercourse ability, its clinical significance for ED remains limited.
• No evidence exists comparing ginseng to established ED treatments like phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.