SynthesisThe journal of sexual medicine2019
An Analysis of Popular Online Erectile Dysfunction Supplements.
Synthesis in The journal of sexual medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 3 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
15 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Dietary Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction: Analysis of Marketed Products, Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Rational Use.Nutrients · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- A systematic review and evidence-based analysis of ingredients in popular male testosterone and erectile dysfunction supplements.International journal of impotence research · 2021Pooled it
- Herbal dietary supplements for erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.Journal of traditional and complementary medicine · 2026Article
- Understanding Cancer Survivorship Care Needs Using Amazon Reviews: Content Analysis, Algorithm Development, and Validation Study.JMIR cancer · 2025Article
- Exosomes Derived from Bone Marrow Dendritic Cells Exhibit Protective and Therapeutic Potential Against Chemically Induced Chronic Pancreatitis in Rats.Inflammation · 2025Article
- Determinants of multimodal fake review generation in China's E-commerce platforms.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Is Reddit a reliable source for information on erectile dysfunction treatment?International journal of impotence research · 2023Article
- Identifying Targets for Innovation in Amazon Reviews of Bedwetting Alarms: Thematic Analysis.Interactive journal of medical research · 2023Article
- How Internet Websites Portray Herbal Vitality Products ContainingInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Side effects of amino acid supplements.Physiological research · 2022Article
- Alternative Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction: a Growing Arsenal in Men's Health.Current urology reports · 2021Review
- Alternative medicine and herbal remedies in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: A systematic review.Arab journal of urology · 2021Review
- Efficacy and Safety of Common Ingredients in Aphrodisiacs Used for Erectile Dysfunction: A Review.Sexual medicine reviews · 2020Review
- A review of the evolving landscape between the consumer Internet and men's health.Translational andrology and urology · 2020Review
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
introductionErectile dysfunction supplements (ED-Ss) are featured on online marketplaces like Amazon.com, with dedicated pages and claims that they naturally treat ED. However, their efficacy and safety are largely unknown, limiting the ability to counsel patients regarding their use.
aimTo evaluate the highest rated and most frequently reviewed ED-Ss on Amazon.com to facilitate patient counseling regarding marketing myths, ingredient profiles, and evidence for product efficacy and safety.
methodsThe Amazon marketplace was queried using the key term "erectile dysfunction" with default search settings and ranking items based on relevance. The top 6 ED-S products identified on September 29, 2018, were reviewed based on price, ratings, reviews, manufacturer, and ingredients. Consumer reviews were categorized using subtopics within the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire to better understand ED-S efficacy and then reanalyzed following filtration of untrustworthy comments using ReviewMeta.com, a proprietary Amazon review analysis software. OUTCOMES: Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of ED-S products sold on Amazon.com.
resultsThe top 6 ED-Ss had an average of 2,121 ± 1,282 reviews and a mean rating of 3.92 ± 0.42 stars. A total of 21 ingredients were identified in these ED-Ss. Ginseng, horny goat weed, L-arginine, and tongkat ali were the most popular ingredients included in the analyzed products. Our literature review identified 413 studies involving the 21 identified ingredients, of which 59 (16%) involved human subjects. Among these 69 human studies, only 12 (17%) investigated supplement ingredients individually and reported improvement in ED. Analysis of top-ranked customer reviews from the first 2 pages of reviews for each supplement revealed differences in IIEF scores before and after ReviewMeta.com filtration. After filtration, we observed a 77% decrease in reviews reporting improved erection strength, an 83% decrease in reviews reporting improved ability to maintain erection, a 90% decrease in reviews reporting increased sexual satisfaction, an 88% decrease in reviews reporting increased enjoyment with intercourse, and an 89% decrease in reviews reporting increased erection confidence. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: Study strengths include a novel approach to ascertaining consumers' perceptions and satisfaction with ED-Ss and practical summary information that clinicians can provide to patients. Limitations include selection bias, the small number of supplements analyzed, and the proprietary nature of the Amazon review analysis software.
conclusionsOur investigation revealed that human studies evaluating the efficacy of ED-S ingredients are limited and have yielded no definitive findings of the effects on ED. Patients considering ED-S use should receive appropriate counseling, given the prevalence of disingenuous reviews and the ready availability of Food and Drug Administration-approved drug therapies. Balasubramanian A, Thirumavalavan N, Srivatsav A, et al. An Analysis of Popular Online Erectile Dysfunction Supplements. J Sex Med 2019;16:843-852.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.