The world of remedies (drugs and supplements) to support sexual performance is vast and “chaotic”. Never before have we witnessed such a spasmodic and frequent search for substances to boost sexual performance even by those who, in terms of age and health, would have no need of them.
The latest research speaks clearly. More and more men under 55 (the age from which a natural physiological decline may begin to be felt) are turning to chemical substances to support their sexual performance, without thinking of the serious risks they run, concentrating only on the “here and now”.
A 2004 American study[1] in fact showed that between 1998 and 2002 the percentage of men aged between 18 and 44 who used Viagra grew by as much as 312%, while the percentage among those aged between 46 and 55 rose by 216%.
In another study, carried out in Saudi Arabia, a number of men were interviewed about the use of drugs to improve sexual performance. Around 40% of those interviewed said they had used them, but what is most surprising is that more than half of those interviewed were under 45 years of age[2].
The possible problems
Synthetic substances for sexual performance can be prescribed only by a doctor when specific causes leading to erectile deficits or difficulties during intercourse are identified.
The casualness with which people (young people in particular) who do not have such dysfunctions turn to these substances is alarming and shows a great lack of awareness of the harmful effects that prolonged use can bring.
Another aspect to consider, and one that is talked about even less, is psychological dependence. Taking these substances, particularly at a young age, can create a genuine dependence, a vicious circle whereby the person becomes convinced they can no longer do without them in order to have a fulfilling sex life.
Products available on the Web: a sea you need to learn to navigate
A further problem is the Web. The Internet has opened the doors to the possibility of buying, from home, products from all over the world, passed off as natural or as miracle solutions at prices that are often rock-bottom.
Unfortunately, more often than not, the quality and origin of these products is questionable. In particular they can contain substances with a toxic effect, at both organic and neuronal level, such as amphetamines, lidocaine, caffeine at extremely high doses, or plaster, printing ink and even rat poison!
In the world of supplements, too, you need to keep your eyes wide open. Products are often presented as “natural” when in reality they can contain dangerous substances or plant ingredients fraudulently altered with the addition of undeclared illegal substances (e.g. pharmaceutical actives stolen or obtained from clandestine laboratories, Tribulus extract with added testosterone or diosgenin, etc.).
It is clear, then, how easy, but risky, it is to rely on certain products and how dangerous do-it-yourself is for your own health.
You should therefore be wary of vague, sensational offers and rely instead on serious, reliable Companies with real brands and certified products.
Moreover, over the years, phytotherapy and the world of natural substances have studied these conditions in ever greater depth, and there are various studies that testify to the importance of an approach that is also natural.
Experimental Phytotherapy
L-Arginine
- 2017 Mar;5(2):256-261. doi: 10.1111/andr.12293. Epub 2017 Feb 8. Levels of l-arginine and l-citrulline in patients with erectile dysfunction of different etiology. Barassi A, Corsi Romanelli MM, Pezzilli R, Damele CA, Vaccalluzzo L, Goi G, Papini N, Colpi GM, Massaccesi L, Melzi d'Eril GV
This study measures the levels of l-arginine and l-citrulline in patients with erectile dysfunction of different aetiology.
After several trials, the study concludes that a significant percentage of patients with erectile dysfunction have a low level of L-arginine or L-citrulline and that this condition is more frequent in patients with arteriogenic aetiology. Low levels of these nitric oxide substrates could increase the risk of erectile dysfunction by reducing the concentration of nitric oxide in the tissues.
L-Citrulline
- Influence of L-citrulline and watermelon supplementation on vascular function and exercise performance
This study aims to evaluate the influence of L-citrulline and watermelon supplementation on vascular function and on male physical performance. In particular, the aim is to assess whether taking these substances leads to greater bioavailability of L-arginine and hence to the synthesis of nitric oxide.
At the end of the study, the researchers found confirmation of the initial thesis, highlighting that L-citrulline supplementation has been shown to improve physical performance even in young adults.
Maca
- 2009 Apr;41(2):95-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2008.00892.x. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical trial. Zenico T, Cicero AF, Valmorri L, Mercuriali M, Bercovich E.
This study, carried out double-blind, analyses the effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on the wellbeing and sexual performance of 50 men with mild erectile dysfunction.
The study lasted 12 weeks, at the end of which it emerged that the subjects who took the Maca extract had significant improvements in their subjective perception of general and sexual wellbeing.
Damiana
[Estrada-Reyes R, Ortiz-López P, Gutiérrez-Ortíz J, Martínez-Mota L. Turnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) recovers sexual behavior in sexually exhausted males. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jun 25;123(3):423-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.03.032. Epub 2009 Mar 31. PMID: 19501274.
In this study, researchers examined the effect of Damiana on sexually exhausted male animals.
The results confirmed the use of Damiana as an aphrodisiac and suggest possible therapeutic properties of Turnera diffusa on sexual dysfunction and in improving sexual desire and performance.
- Estrada-Reyes R, Carro-Juárez M, Martínez-Mota L. Pro-sexual effects of Turnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) in male rats involves the nitric oxide pathway. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Mar 7;146(1):164-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.12.025. Epub 2013 Jan 5. PMID: 23298455.
In this study, the effect of Damiana was compared with that of Sildenafil, a well-known drug used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, in improving sexual performance and reducing performance anxiety.
Damiana had the same effects as Sildenafil on sexual performance and, unlike the drug, reduced the sensation of perceived anxiety. The results confirm that the flavonoids contained in Damiana act on sexual dysfunction through positive modulation of the nitric oxide pathway.
Ginseng
- Int J Impot Res. 2013 Mar-Apr;25(2):45-50. doi: 10.1038/ijir.2012.45. Epub 2012 Dec 20. Effects of Korean ginseng berry extract on sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction: a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study. Choi YD, Park CW, Jang J, Kim SH, Jeon HY, Kim WG, Lee SJ, Chung WS.
A scientific work aiming to study the effects of Korean ginseng berry extract on sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction.
The study, double-blind, was conducted on a sample of 119 men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction, over eight weeks.
At the end of the trial, the researchers confirmed that oral administration of Ginseng extract improves, in general, all sexual functions and that this remedy can therefore be used to support the sex life of men with sexual dysfunctions.
Reduced Glutathione
- J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Jun 10;12:27. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0086-7. eCollection 2015. Combined L-citrulline and glutathione supplementation increases the concentration of markers indicative of nitric oxide synthesis. McKinley-Barnard S, Andre T, Morita M, Willoughby DS.
In this study, the researchers wanted to demonstrate that combined supplementation with L-citrulline and glutathione increases the concentration of markers indicative of nitric oxide synthesis.
The study was carried out double-blind and showed that the combination of L-citrulline with GSH favours an increase in the levels of nitrites and NOx under in vitro and in vivo conditions. This mechanism can support natural erectile function.
Maritime Pine
- Minerva Urol Nefrol. 2015 Mar;67(1):27-32. Improvement of erectile function by a combination of French maritime pine bark and roburins with aminoacids. Stanislavov R, Rohdewald P.
This double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study, carried out on 50 men with moderate erectile dysfunction treated with maritime pine bark extract, arginine and citrulline for one month, showed the ability to restore normal levels of function, with no unwanted effects.
Chilli Pepper
- J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) . 1995 Dec;41(6):647-56. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.41.647. Effects of red-pepper diet on the energy metabolism in men M Yoshioka, K Lim, S Kikuzato, A Kiyonaga, H Tanaka, M Shindo, M Suzuki.
In this study, the researchers analysed the effects of chilli pepper on energy metabolism in men. In particular, it was shown that a chilli pepper-based diet increases the oxidation of carbohydrates without increasing total energy expenditure. And an increase in energy expenditure immediately after taking chilli pepper is due to beta-adrenergic stimulation. This action, too, can be of support to erectile physiology.
[1] Barassi A, Corsi Romanelli MM, Pezzilli R, Damele CA, Vaccalluzzo L, Goi G, Papini N, Colpi GM, Massaccesi L, Melzi d'Eril GV. Levels of l-arginine and l-citrulline in patients with erectile dysfunction of different etiology. Andrology. 2017 Mar;5(2):256-261. doi: 10.1111/andr.12293. Epub 2017 Feb 8. PMID: 28178400.
[2] McKinley-Barnard S, Andre T, Morita M, Willoughby DS. Combined L-citrulline and glutathione supplementation increases the concentration of markers indicative of nitric oxide synthesis. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015 Jun 10;12:27. doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0086-7. PMID: 26097441; PMCID: PMC4472409.
[3] AZenico T, Cicero AF, Valmorri L, Mercuriali M, Bercovich E. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical trial. Andrologia. 2009 Apr;41(2):95-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2008.00892.x. PMID: 19260845.
[4] Arletti R, Benelli A, Cavazzuti E, Scarpetta G, Bertolini A. Stimulating property of Turnera diffusa and Pfaffia paniculata extracts on the sexual-behavior of male rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999 Mar;143(1):15-9. doi: 10.1007/s002130050913. PMID: 10227074.
[5] Estrada-Reyes R, Carro-Juárez M, Martínez-Mota L. Pro-sexual effects of Turnera diffusa Wild (Turneraceae) in male rats involves the nitric oxide pathway. J Ethnopharmacol. 2013 Mar 7;146(1):164-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.12.025. Epub 2013 Jan 5. PMID: 23298455.
[6] Choi YD, Park CW, Jang J, Kim SH, Jeon HY, Kim WG, Lee SJ, Chung WS. Effects of Korean ginseng berry extract on sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction: a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study. Int J Impot Res. 2013 Mar-Apr;25(2):45-50. doi: 10.1038/ijir.2012.45. Epub 2012 Dec 20. PMID: 23254461.
[7] Delate T, Simmons VA, Motheral BR. Patterns of use of sildenafil among commercially insured adults in the United States: 1998-2002. Int J Impot Res. 2004 Aug;16(4):313-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901191. PMID: 14973524.
[8] Ahmed AF, Alshahrani S, Morgan A, Gabr AH, Abdel-Razik M, Daoud A. Demographics and sexual characteristics of sex-enhancing medication users: Study of a web-based cross-sectional sample of sexually active men. Arab J Urol. 2017;15(4):366-371. Published 2017 Nov 6. doi:10.1016/j.aju.2017.09.003.
Our texts are for information purposes only; they are not to be understood as an indication for the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and are in no way intended to replace the advice of a doctor.