Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials
Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of antioxidant supplementation for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of oral...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The World Journal of Men's Health |
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| author | Ranjith Ramasamy Samir Bhattacharyya Taylor P. Kohn Larry E. Miller |
| author_facet | Ranjith Ramasamy Samir Bhattacharyya Taylor P. Kohn Larry E. Miller |
| author_sort | Ranjith Ramasamy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of antioxidant supplementation for treating erectile
dysfunction (ED).
Materials and Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for double-blind, randomized,
placebo-controlled trials of oral antioxidant supplementation in men with ED. Erectile function was assessed by the
International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function domain (IIEF-EF) score. Using random-effects meta-analysis models,
antioxidant and placebo groups were compared for erectile function using the mean difference in IIEF-EF score adjusted to a
6–30 scale and for side effects using the log risk ratio.
Results: The review included 23 trials of 1,583 men (median age 51 years) treated with antioxidant supplementation or placebo
for a median of 12 weeks (range, 4 weeks to 6 months). Antioxidant supplementation significantly improved erectile
function compared to placebo, with a mean difference of 5.5 points (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.7 to 7.3; p<0.001) on
the IIEF-EF. In meta-regression, the treatment benefit was greater in men with more severe ED (p<0.001). Side effects were
uncommon, none were serious, and the frequency was comparable between antioxidant (3.8%) and placebo (2.1%) groups
(log risk ratio=0.36; 95% CI: -0.24 to 0.97; p=0.24).
Conclusions: Antioxidant supplementation appears safe and significantly improves erectile function in men with ED, particularly
those with more severe symptoms. Limitations of this review included unknown long-term efficacy and safety and the
inability to make specific product and dosing recommendations due to the variety of antioxidants and regimens studied. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-601606f8b2124a7c836d3620e07c2b5d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2287-4208 2287-4690 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The World Journal of Men's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-601606f8b2124a7c836d3620e07c2b5d2025-01-03T03:05:19ZengKorean Society for Sexual Medicine and AndrologyThe World Journal of Men's Health2287-42082287-46902025-01-01431819110.5534/wjmh.230280Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled TrialsRanjith Ramasamy0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1387-7904Samir Bhattacharyya1https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2534-0702Taylor P. Kohn2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2807-4998Larry E. Miller3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1594-1885Desai Sethi Urology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FLBoston Scientific, Marlborough, MADesai Sethi Urology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FLDepartment of Biostatistics, Miller Scientific, Johnson City, TNPurpose: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of antioxidant supplementation for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of oral antioxidant supplementation in men with ED. Erectile function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function domain (IIEF-EF) score. Using random-effects meta-analysis models, antioxidant and placebo groups were compared for erectile function using the mean difference in IIEF-EF score adjusted to a 6–30 scale and for side effects using the log risk ratio. Results: The review included 23 trials of 1,583 men (median age 51 years) treated with antioxidant supplementation or placebo for a median of 12 weeks (range, 4 weeks to 6 months). Antioxidant supplementation significantly improved erectile function compared to placebo, with a mean difference of 5.5 points (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.7 to 7.3; p<0.001) on the IIEF-EF. In meta-regression, the treatment benefit was greater in men with more severe ED (p<0.001). Side effects were uncommon, none were serious, and the frequency was comparable between antioxidant (3.8%) and placebo (2.1%) groups (log risk ratio=0.36; 95% CI: -0.24 to 0.97; p=0.24). Conclusions: Antioxidant supplementation appears safe and significantly improves erectile function in men with ED, particularly those with more severe symptoms. Limitations of this review included unknown long-term efficacy and safety and the inability to make specific product and dosing recommendations due to the variety of antioxidants and regimens studied.antioxidantserectile dysfunctionmeta-analysisrandomized controlled trialsystematic review |
| spellingShingle | Ranjith Ramasamy Samir Bhattacharyya Taylor P. Kohn Larry E. Miller Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials The World Journal of Men's Health antioxidants erectile dysfunction meta-analysis randomized controlled trial systematic review |
| title | Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials |
| title_full | Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials |
| title_fullStr | Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials |
| title_short | Antioxidant Supplementation for Erectile Dysfunction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials |
| title_sort | antioxidant supplementation for erectile dysfunction systematic review and meta analysis of double blind randomized placebo controlled trials |
| topic | antioxidants erectile dysfunction meta-analysis randomized controlled trial systematic review |
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