Trial reportBMC complementary and alternative medicine2012
Evaluation of a multi-herb supplement for erectile dysfunction: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Trial report in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.
- Tribulus terrestris for management of patients with erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.International journal of impotence research · 2026Pooled it
- Herbal Dietary Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Drugs · 2018Pooled it
- Herbal dietary supplements for erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.Journal of traditional and complementary medicine · 2026Article
- Article
- Efficacy of Hongjing I granule, an herbal medicine, in patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction in a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2024Article
- Bioactivity of the GenusPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Phytomedicinal therapeutics for male infertility: critical insights and scientific updates.Journal of natural medicines · 2022Review
- Alternative medicine and herbal remedies in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A systematic review.Arab journal of urology · 2021Review
- The genusIranian journal of basic medical sciences · 2019Review
- Effects of Physical Activity and Ginkgo Biloba on Cognitive Function and Oxidative Stress Modulation in Ischemic Rats.The International journal of angiology : official publication of the International College of Angiology, Inc · 2017Article
- Pharmacovigilance on sexual enhancing herbal supplements.Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society · 2016Article
- Action Mechanism of Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extract Intervened by Exercise Therapy in Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundEvidence is lacking for multi-ingredient herbal supplements claiming therapeutic effect in sexual dysfunction in men. We examined the safety and efficacy of VigRX Plus (VXP) - a proprietary polyherbal preparation for improving male sexual function, in a double blind, randomized placebo-controlled, parallel groups, multi-centre study.
methods78 men aged 25-50 years of age; suffering from mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED), participated in this study. Subjects were randomized to receive VXP or placebo at a dose of two capsules twice daily for 12 weeks. The international index of erectile function (IIEF) was the primary outcome measure of efficacy. Other efficacy measures were: Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS), Serum testosterone, Semen analysis, Investigator's Global assessment and Subjects' opinion.
resultsIn subjects receiving VXP, the IIEF-Erectile Function (EF) scores improved significantly as compared to placebo. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean (sd) IIEF-EF score at baseline increased from 16.08 (2.87) to 25.08 (4.56) in the VXP group versus 15.86 (3.24) to 16.47 (4.25) in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Similar results were observed in each of the remaining four domains of the IIEF (orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction).There was a significant difference for VXP versus placebo comparison of mean (sd) EDITS scores of patients: 82.31(20.23) vs 36.78(22.53) and partners :(82.75(9.8) vs 18.50(9.44);P < 0.001. Thirty-five out of 39 (90%) subjects from the VXP group and one (3%) from the placebo group wished to continue with the treatment they received. Investigator's global assessment rated VXP therapy as very good to excellent in more than 50% patients and placebo therapy as fair to good in about 25% of patients. Incidence of side effects and subject's rating for tolerability of treatment was similar in both groups.
conclusionsVigRX Plus was well tolerated and more effective than placebo in improving sexual function in men.
trial registrationClinical Trial Registry India, CTRI/2009/091/000099, 31-03-2009.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.