Posted by Iansf on February 22, 2013, at 14:20:50
THE SYNERGY TIMES
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Feb 21, 2013; Vol 13 No 17
SAFFRON MAY IMPROVE ERECTILE FUNCTIONING
A series of recent studies, all from Iran, suggest that saffron (Crocus sativus) may improve erectile functioning in men. These studies are briefly reviewed.Shamsa et al (2009)
These authors administered saffron (200 mg) each morning to 20 men with erectile dysfunction (ED). After 10 days of treatment, there was a significant improvement in penile tip rigidity and tip tumescence, penile base rigidity and base tumescence, and in the number and duration of erectile events. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) scores improved from a mean of 22 before treatment to a mean of 39 after treatment.Safarinejad et al (2010)
These authors described a randomized, crossover study of on-demand sildenafil vs saffron (30 mg twice daily) in 346 men with ED. Each treatment was administered for 12 weeks with a 2-week washout in between. Saffron treatment resulted in little benefit as assessed from the IIEF-15 scores, Sexual Encounter Profile diary questions, patient and partner versions of the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction questionnaire, and the Global Efficacy Question 'Has the medication you have been taking improved your erections?' In contrast, there was significant benefit with sildenafil.Modabbernia et al (2012)
These authors described an RCT where 36 men who reported fluoxetine (40 mg/day)-related subjective sexual impairment (after recovery from major depression) were treated with saffron (15 mg twice daily) or placebo for 4 weeks. Fifteen patients in each group completed the study. Analysis of IIEF scores showed that saffron was associated with significantly superior outcomes for erectile function and for satisfaction with intercourse, but not for orgasmic function, sexual desire, and overall satisfaction. Normal erectile function (IIEF domain score >25) was attained by 60% of saffron vs 7% of placebo patients at the end of the study. Saffron-related IIEF benefits were evident by week 2 of treatment, itself. Saffron was associated with a placebo level of adverse events.Conclusions
Some but not all studies suggest that saffron (30 mg/day and above) may improve erectile dysfunction in men.Comments
Animal data suggest that saffron also has antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antilipid properties (Kamalipour and Akhondzadeh, 2011).References
Kamalipour M, Akhondzadeh S. Cardiovascular effects of saffron: an evidence-based review. J Tehran Heart Cent 2011; 6: 59-61.Modabbernia A, Sohrabi H, Nasehi AA, Raisi F, Saroukhani S, Jamshidi A et al. Effect of saffron on fluoxetine-induced sexual impairment in men: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 223: 381-388.
Safarinejad MR, Shafiei N, Safarinejad S. An open label, randomized, fixed-dose, crossover study comparing efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate and saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.) for treating erectile dysfunction in men naove to treatment. Int J Impot Res 2010; 22: 240-250.
Shamsa A, Hosseinzadeh H, Molaei M, Shakeri MT, Rajabi O. Evaluation of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) on male erectile dysfunction: a pilot study. Phytomedicine 2009; 16: 690-693.
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