ConsumerLab.com announced today that it found only six out of eleven supplements used for sexual enhancement to contain key ingredients listed on their labels and meet other quality criteria. Products failed testing due to lead contamination or for containing lower levels of compounds than expected. The new Product Review of Sexual Enhancement Supplements also reviews the clinical evidence for 35 different herbs and ingredients used in such products. Of these thirty-five, moderate or preliminary evidence of benefit was found for only fourteen ingredients.Testing focused on the products made with yohimbe, L-arginine, or epimedium (“horny goat weed”) due their popularity and evidence supporting their use. Results for supplements made with ginseng, DHEA and acetyl-l-carnitine, which may also provide benefit, are available in separate Reviews on the ConsumerLab.com website.
“Over thirty percent of men and women have some form of sexual dysfunction, so it is not surprising that there are many supplements promoted to help improve erectile dysfunction, sexual desire, and sexual enjoyment,” said Tod Cooperman, MD, ConsumerLab.com’s president. ”Some products may provide benefit, but the evidence for others is limited or non-existent. And many products are combinations of ingredients that have not been studied together.” He advised, “People considering a supplement should focus on products with ingredients that have been shown to work and have been tested for quality. It is also important to use them properly because some can have serious side-effects -- such as dangerously low blood pressure and even cardiac failure with high-dose yohimbe.”
The testing included popular products such as ArginMax for Women, Excite Male Performance, Libido-Max, and Source Naturals Male Response as well products from Bodyonics (Pinnacle), Natrol, Nature’s Harmony, Planetary Formulas, Progressive Laboratories (PL), TwinLab, and Ultimate Nutrition. Products were also screened for possible adulteration with pharmaceuticals, such as those in Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. Spiking with these agents has been reported in some supplements but was not found in the products tested.
In addition to products selected by ConsumerLab.com, two products are included in the report for passing the same testing through ConsumerLab.com’s Voluntary Certification Program. These products are from Nature’s Bounty and Puritan’s Pride. A product from Vitamin World is also noted in the report for being identical to a product that passed testing.
The new report is available at http://www.consumerlab.com/results/sexen.asp. The report provides results for each product, ingredient comparisons, expert tips on buying and using these supplements, and potential side effects. Reviews of other popular types of supplements are also available at www.consumerlab.com. New Reviews to be released in coming weeks include prostate supplements (saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol), calcium and vitamin D, probiotics, garlic, and supplements to help prevent cancer (green tea, selenium, and lycopene). The paperback ConsumerLab.com's Guide to Buying Vitamins and Supplements: What's Really in the Bottle? is available in bookstores, online, or through 800-431-1579.
ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. ConsumerLab.com is affiliated with PharmacyChecker.com, an evaluator of online pharmacies, and MedicareDrugPlans.com, which reviews and rates Medicare Part D plans. Subscription to ConsumerLab.com is available online.
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