New findings reveal that a nutritional supplement intended as a sexual enhancement aid does not boost sexual function in female cancer survivors. However, the data, announced at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, show that L-arginine/Korean ginseng/gingko biloba/damiana-based supplement appears to significantly enhance quality of life in this population.

Kathryn M. Greven, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and colleagues elsewhere randomized 186 women to 12 weeks’ treatment with three capsules of the supplement twice daily or placebo.

There has been a lack of research on interventions that may be effective in improving quality of life and sexual function disorders in female cancer survivors, Dr. Greven noted.

L-arginine/Korean ginseng/gingko biloba/damiana-based supplement contains L-arginine, which enhances systemic nitric oxide synthesis, resulting in vasodilation that may improve sexual function.

The study included women at least six months from active treatment and without current evidence of cancer. Most of them were breast cancer survivors. Overall, 58% reported having sexual intercourse less than once a month, 67% cited moderate to extreme dissatisfaction with their sex lives, and 64% voiced moderate to extreme disinterest.

The primary outcome measure was the Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) while the secondary outcome measure was the FACT-G quality of life instrument.

Overall sexual function, as measured by the FSFI, improved by 3 points in the control group and 3.7 points in the supplement arm over the 12-week study period, a difference that was not statistically significant (p = .610).

FACT-G total quality of life scores, however, were significantly better at 12 weeks among participants receiving the supplement versus those receiving placebo (LS means of 87.5 vs 82.9, p = .009). The most pronounced improvements occurred on the physical (24.6 vs 22.9, p = .001) and functional (21.6 vs 19.8, p = .007) subscale scores.

Dr. Greven said that she is enthused by the findings but added that she is still seeking to identify a treatment that will improve sexual function in female cancer survivors.

Written by Jill Stein