l. mostafavi

Considering the important role of sexual dysfunction and decreased sexual function of patients with diabetes, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of soft gelatin capsules of ginseng as an herbal medicine on sexual function in patients with diabetes.

In this double-blind controlled clinical trial with a control group, 80 patients with diabetes (type 1 and 2) were selected using the convenience sampling method, and randomly allocated to two groups of control and intervention groups (each 40 people). The effect of 100 to 200 mg of ginseng soft gelatin capsules (daily for 8 weeks) on the sexual function of men and women with diabetes in the intervention group and a similar placebo in the control group were studied. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were used for gathering data before and at the end of 8 weeks of intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software.

At the beginning of the study, the mean score of the IIEF index in the control and intervention groups was 28.08±5.93 and 30.73±8.15, respectively without significant change (p=0.199). Eight weeks after the intervention, the IIEF index significantly improved in the group receiving ginseng 44.95±7.64 as compared to the control group 27.81±6.02 (p<0.001). At the baseline, the mean score of the FSFI index in the control and intervention groups were 47.36±5.93 and 46.06±5.47, respectively (p=0.525). At the end of the study, the FSFI index significantly improved in the group receiving ginseng 66.17±5.63 as compared to the control group 47.21±8.41 (p<0.001).

The consumption of ginseng for 8 weeks had a significant effect on the improvement of the sexual function of male and female diabetic patients.