2001-06-23

A first-of-its-kind study provides clinical data supporting the role of a nutritional supplement in improving female sexual health.

The results of a study on a nutritional supplement expressly formulated for female sexual health (ArginMaxR for Women) was presented at the 15th Annual World Congress of Sexology in Paris, France on June 28, 2001. The study reported significant improvement in women's sexual desire and overall satisfaction, according to the coauthor, Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD, MPH, professor and chair, Department Of Gynecology/Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California. The study results were published as an abstract in the May/June 2001 issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Women's Health and Gender-Based Medicine.

The World Association of Sexology (WAS) brought together thousands of educators, doctors, scientists, and therapists from around the world to share important new scientific information and developments in the field of sexology and to discuss effective approaches toward comprehensive sexual education. This year's program was held June 24-28, 2001.

Sexual health encompasses both sexual desire and physiological response. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1999 assessed the prevalence of sexual issues across various social and age groups. The study reported that there were many more unaddressed sexual health issues among women than previously believed, yet relatively little research has been conducted in this area.

In the new, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 93 women, ages 22-73 and lacking sexual desire, enrolled as participants. Of the 93 women involved, 46 received a nutritional supplement and 47 received placebo. The participants used the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire to rate their level of sexual health before and after the completion of the study.

At the end of four weeks, 62% of the active group reported significantly improved satisfaction with their overall sex life, compared to 38% in the placebo group (p<0.01). In the active group, 64% reported an improvement in their level of sexual desire, compared to 43% in the placebo group. A subgroup of perimenopausal women also showed similar improvements. The nutritional supplement used in the study is a patent-pending formula that contains special extracts of ginseng and ginkgo, damiana, L-arginine and 14 other vitamins and minerals. Ginseng, ginkgo, and the other ingredients have a long history of use. L-arginine is an essential amino acid reported to play an important role in sexual health.

"There are a lot of herbal ingredients that are marketed for sexual health, but to our knowledge, this is the only nutritional supplement for women that is supported by any clinical research," according to Polan.

This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.