Efficacy and putative mechanisms of action of nutraceuticals in the management of erectile dysfunction: a narrative review
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition in the male population and isinfluenced by numerous pathophysiological factors. Recently, interest in nutraceuticals and natural remedies as complementary or alternative therapies to traditional pharmacological treatments has increased exponentially. T...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MRE Press
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Men's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://oss.jomh.org/files/article/20250627-564/pdf/JOMH2025032002.pdf |
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| Summary: | Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition in the male population and isinfluenced
by numerous pathophysiological factors. Recently, interest in nutraceuticals and natural
remedies as complementary or alternative therapies to traditional pharmacological
treatments has increased exponentially. This narrative review aims to analyze the impact
of the most studied nutraceuticals in the treatment of ED, analyzing their mechanisms of
action, clinical efficacy and safety. Much attention has been paid to compounds such
as L-arginine, as well as several medicinal plants including ginseng, maca, Tribulus
terrestris and antioxidant substances such as resveratrol and Pycnogenol. These natural
products have different mechanisms of action, including modulation of endothelial
function, reduction of oxidative stress and balance of sex hormones, thus addressing
multiple therapeutical targets for the management of ED. However, despite promising
results reported in various preclinical and clinical studies, several limitations to the use of
nutraceuticals for ED persist, including variability in study designs, lack of standardized
dosages of various compounds and lack of long-term safety evaluations. In fact, although
nutraceuticals generally demonstrate a favorable safety profile compared to traditional
drugs, they are not completely exempt from possible side effects. Furthermore, issues
such as inconsistent patient adherence to treatment and potential interactions with drug
therapies require further research and investigation. Therefore, high-quality, adequately
sized clinical trials to better evaluate the efficacy and safety of these compounds, alone or
in combination with conventional, widely adopted therapeutic regimens are warranted.
In conclusion, nutraceuticals present a promising therapeutic option in the management
of ED, potentially capable of improving clinical outcomes and patients’ quality of life
when integrated into an all-inclusive therapeutic strategy. |
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| ISSN: | 1875-6867 1875-6859 |