Washington, D.C.: A team of researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has examined the safety and effectiveness of the treatments that claim to improve male sexual health.
Ryan Terlecki, M.D., associate professor of urology and senior author, said certain natural supplements that they have reviewed showed promise for improving mild sexual dysfunction but they lack robust human evidence.
For some products, there was no scientific evidence to support claims that can positively impact erectile function, libido and sexual performance.
Researchers found that Ginseng, which is the most common ingredient in top selling men's health supplements, can cause headache, upset stomach, constipation, rash, insomnia and lower blood sugar (caution in diabetics).
Also, L-arginine, which is the most common amino acid seen in men's health supplements and is also the third of top sellers, has the theoretical potential to improve erectile function in some patients and seems relatively safe. It has been associated, however with a drop in blood pressure, but without a significant change in heart rate.
Additionally, Maca is the most common vegetable among top selling men's health supplements. In animal research, use of maca was associated with increased sexual behavior.
There have also been rare reports of toxicity, such as mild increase in liver enzymes and blood pressure. The study is published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
