Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals in the Management of Andrologic Disorders
Section snippets
Common problems
Three problems can occur when dealing with dietary supplements and nutraceuticals.
First, the ingredients on the label may not be present in the indicated dosage, or may even be completely absent. This was the case in a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study that found little or no yohimbine in most of the 18 supplements tested [9]. DHEA concentrations in supplements were determined at 0% to 150% of the amount indicated on the package [10]. Of 13 tested isoflavone preparations, 9 contained
ED and decreased libido
From 10 to 30 million American men suffer from ED [26], [27], and with a population that is aging and increasingly suffering from risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, the prevalence is bound to increase [28]. Although ED and decreased libido are different entities that do not necessarily overlap, many DS/N claim to improve both conditions. Unfortunately, the quality of many studies is hampered by small sample sizes, inappropriate or poorly controlled study designs, and a
Prostate health
A Canadian survey among over 1000 men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer found that 39% of responders were using alternative therapies, particularly DS/N [94]. A similar study in the United States showed that of over 2500 men with prostate cancer surveyed, about one third were using complementary or alternative medicine [95]. A smaller survey of men whose brothers had been diagnosed with prostate cancer revealed that 55% of responders were using complementary medicine [7]. The most popular
Summary
Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are commonly used by men with ED, decreased libido, BPH, and concerns about developing prostate cancer. Many preparations do not contain the advertised dosages of the active ingredient or are contaminated. There is some evidence for the efficacy of pharmaceutical-grade yohimbine for ED. In contrast to ginkgo, Panax ginseng and L-arginine, particularly when combined with pycnogenol or yohimbine, may also improve ED. ALC and PLC have been used successfully
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Iron metabolism: An emerging therapeutic target underlying the anti-Alzheimer's disease effect of ginseng
2023, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and BiologyEfficacy and Safety of Common Ingredients in Aphrodisiacs Used for Erectile Dysfunction: A Review
2020, Sexual Medicine ReviewsCitation Excerpt :Though our review focuses on the top 10 ingredients identified in a prior study, the current literature on several other common ingredients is presented here.9 Yohimbine is one of the most well-studied ingredients in urology, with reported improvement in sexual dysfunction.20 Yohimbine serves as an alpha-2 antagonist and was commonly used as an enhancer of sexual function before the availability of commercial PDE5 inhibitors.69
Diarylheptanoids as nutraceutical: A review
2019, Biocatalysis and Agricultural BiotechnologyCitation Excerpt :Epidemiological studies show that dietary supplementation of nutraceuticals such as catechins, linolenic acid, anthocyanin, lycopene, resveratrol and saponin glycosides can decrease the incidence of diseases (Cencic and Chingwaru, 2010; Aschemann-Witzel and Grunert, 2015; Ruchi, 2017). Studies have shown that nutraceuticals have the property to inhibit prostate cancer growth (Salami et al., 2013), protect against cardiovascular disease (Sosnowska et al., 2017), control cholesterol levels (Cicero et al., 2012) and andrologic disorders (Tamler and Mechanick, 2007), maintain gastrointestinal health (Romano et al., 2012) and retard degenerative disorders (Pasrija et al., 2015). Diarylheptanoids, also known as dipheylheptanoids, fall under the class of plant secondary metabolites derived from various plant sources (Table 1).
A Urologist's Guide to Ingredients Found in Top-Selling Nutraceuticals for Men's Sexual Health
2015, Journal of Sexual MedicineCitation Excerpt :Although benefit has been shown with conditions with physiologic similarities to ED, at present there is no convincing clinical data to support its routine use in men with ED. Yohimbine is an indole alkaloid derived from the bark of the African yohimbe tree [72]. There have been claims that yohimbine can treat fatigue, depression, diabetes, and sexual dysfunction.
Strategies to Improve Endothelial Function and its Clinical Relevance to Erectile Dysfunction
2009, European Urology, SupplementsCitation Excerpt :However, a case of ED that was unresponsive to sildenafil due to hyperhomocysteinemia and was reverted by high doses of folates has been reported [43]. The clinical relevance of dietary supplements containing vitamin complexes for addressing ED and libido disorders needs to undergo rigorous testing before they can be wholeheartedly recommended [44]. Until 1998, yohimbine was the only worldwide oral drug available for the treatment of ED.
Dehydroepiandrosterone stimulates phosphorylation of FoxO1 in vascular endothelial cells via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase- and protein kinase A-dependent signaling pathways to regulate ET-1 synthesis and secretion
2008, Journal of Biological ChemistryCitation Excerpt :Taken together, these observations have led to the hypothesis that DHEA supplementation may have beneficial health effects in humans to oppose age-related declines in metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal function (50). DHEA is widely used as a popular nutritional supplement with putative anti-aging properties (51). However, clinical trials evaluating health benefits of DHEA supplementation in humans have yielded mixed results.