Open AccessGinseng for Erectile Dysfunction: A Cochrane Systematic Review
Author(s) -
Hye Won Lee,
Myeong Soo Lee,
Tae Hun Kim,
Terje Alræk,
Chris Zaslawski,
Jong Wook Kim,
Du Geon Moon
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
the world journal of men's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.711
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2287-4690
pISSN - 2287-4208
DOI - 10.5534/wjmh.210071
Subject(s) - erectile dysfunction , placebo , ginseng , medicine , erectile function , meta analysis , confidence interval , relative risk , strictly standardized mean difference , adverse effect , randomized controlled trial , alternative medicine , pathology
The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of ginseng on erectile dysfunction. We searched multiple electronic databases from their inceptions to 30 January 2021 without restrictions by language. We included randomized or quasirandomized controlled trials that evaluated the use of any type of ginseng as a treatment for erectile dysfunction compared to placebo or conventional treatment. The authors independently screened the literature, extracted data, assessed risk of bias, and rated the certainty of evidence (CoE) according to the GRADE approach. We included nine studies, and all compared ginseng to placebo. Ginseng appears to have a trivial effect on erectile dysfunction when compared to placebo based on the Erectile Function Domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 instrument (mean difference [MD] 3.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.79 to 5.25; I²=0%; 3 studies; low CoE). Ginseng may have little to no effect on adverse events compared to placebo (risk ratio [RR] 1.45, 95% CI 0.69 to 3.03; I²=0%; 7 studies; low CoE). While ginseng may improve men's self-reported ability to have intercourse (RR 2.55, 95% CI 1.76 to 3.69; I²=23%; 6 studies; low CoE), it may have a trivial effect on men's satisfaction with intercourse based on the Intercourse Satisfaction Domain of the IIEF-15 (MD 1.19, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.97; I²=0%; 3 studies; low CoE). No study reported quality of life as an outcome.