Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

IJIR publishes special/guest-edited issues and topical collections. The peer review process for articles included in topical collections/special issues is the same as the peer review process of the journal in general. Additionally, if the Guest Editors author an article in their topical collection/special issue, they will not handle the peer review process.​

Efficacy and safety of pomegranate juice on improvement of erectile dysfunction in male patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 19, pages 564–567 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

This randomized-controlled trial examined the efficacy of wonderful variety pomegranate juice versus placebo in improving erections in 53 completed subjects with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. The crossover design consisted of two 4-week treatment periods separated by a 2-week washout. Efficacy was assessed using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Global Assessment Questionnaires (GAQ). Of the 42 subjects who demonstrated improvement in GAQ scores after beverage consumption, 25 reported improvement after drinking pomegranate juice. Further, 17 subjects showed preference of one beverage to the other. Subjects were more likely to have improved scores when pomegranate juice was consumed (P=0.058). Although overall statistical significance was not achieved, this pilot study suggests the possibility that larger cohorts and longer treatment periods may achieve statistical significance.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Ignarro LJ, Byrns RE, Sumi D, de Nigris F, Napoli C . Pomegranate juice protects nitric oxide against oxidative destruction and enhances the biological actions of nitric oxide. Nitric Oxide 2006; 15: 93–102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Aviram M, Dornfeld L, Rosenblat M, Volkova N, Kaplan M, Coleman R et al. Pomegranate juice consumption reduces oxidative stress, atherogenic modifications to LDL, and platelet aggregation: studies in human and in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71: 1062–1076.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Aviram M, Rosenblat M, Gaitini D, Nitecki S, Hoffman A, Dornfeld L et al. Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure and LDL oxidation. Clin Nutr 2004; 23: 423–433.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kaiser DR, Billups K, Mason C, Wetterling R, Lundberg JL, Bank AJ . Impaired brachial artery endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation in men with erectile dysfunction and no other clinical cardiovascular disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004; 43: 179–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ganz P . Erectile dysfunction: pathophysiologic mechanisms pointing to underlying cardiovascular disease. Am J Cardiol 2005; 96 (Suppl): 8M–12M.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Azadzoi KM, Schulman RL, Aviram M, Siroky MB . Oxidative stress in arteriogenic erectile dysfunction: prophylactic role of antioxidants. J Urol 2005; 174: 386–393.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rosen RC, Riley A, Wagner G, Osterloh IH, Kirkpatrick J, Mishra A . The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF): a multidimensional scale for assessment of erectile dysfunction. Urology 1997; 49: 822–830.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Cappelleri JC, Rosen RC, Smith MD, Mishra A, Osterloh IH . Diagnostic evaluation of the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function. Urology 1999; 54: 346–351.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Agarwal A, Nandipati KC, Sharma RK, Zippe CD, Raina R . Role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiological mechanism of erectile dysfunction. Review. J Androl 2006; 27: 335–347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Karen Edwards for her assistance throughout this clinical trial. This study was financially supported by POM Wonderful, LLC.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Male Clinic, Beverly Hills, CA, USA

    C P Forest & H Padma-Nathan

  2. David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    H R Liker

Authors
  1. C P Forest
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H Padma-Nathan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. H R Liker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C P Forest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Forest, C., Padma-Nathan, H. & Liker, H. Efficacy and safety of pomegranate juice on improvement of erectile dysfunction in male patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Int J Impot Res 19, 564–567 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901570

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901570

Keywords

  • erectile dysfunction
  • pomegranate juice
  • antioxidants
  • endothelial function
  • nitric oxide

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links