A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial to Assess the Effect of Tamarind seed in Premature Ejaculation.

BACKGROUND: This randomized clinical trial was aimed to evaluate the effect of oral use of tamarind seed powder as an herbal product in patients affected by premature ejaculation (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 75 patients randomized in tamarind group (25 patients received daily 130 mg tamarind seed powder), paroxetine group (25 patients received daily 20 mg paroxetine), and placebo group (25 patients). Patients received the treatment regimen for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT). The secondary outcomes were PE diagnostic tool score, sexual function using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and complications. Studied sexual functions include erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction, and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: The mean of IELT in tamarind, paroxetine, and placebo groups at baseline was 35.2 ± 26.5, 38 ± 27.6, and 44 ± 34.9 s and at the end of study was 49.5 ± 48.2, 147.4 ± 209.6, and 46.9 ± 37.6 s, respectively, which in paroxetine group significantly increased compared to other groups. IIEF scores for orgasmic function and intercourse satisfaction for paroxetine after treatment significantly increased than that of other groups. The differences between tamarind and placebo groups for studied variables were not statistically significant. The mean of increases in IELT for tamarind, paroxetine, and placebo groups was 14.35 ± 34.3, 109.4 ± 213.4, and 2.9 ± 9.3 s, respectively, which in paroxetine group was significantly higher than other groups and in tamarind group was significantly higher than placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Paroxetine was significantly better than tamarind seed powder and placebo although side effect in paroxetine was more frequent. IELT significantly more increased in tamarind group compared to placebo.

Study the effects of saffron on depression and lipid profiles: A double blind comparative study.

UNLABELLED: Depression is a one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorder. Despite several pharmacological treatments, still treating depression is a challenge. Herbal medicine that is better culturally accepted may play an important role in treatment of depression. In this double blind placebo controlled clinical trial, 40 patients that were suffering from major depression according to DSM-IV criteria were randomly allocated to take either fluoxetine and saffron (20 patients) or fluoxetine and placebo (20 patients). The patients of the two groups were evaluated with Beck depression scale at the beginning of the study and after four weeks. Lipid profile (total Triglyceride (TG) level, total cholesterol level, low density lipoprotein (LDL) level and high density lipoprotein (HDL) level) of the patients also was measured at the beginning and end of the trial. 30 patients (19 in saffron group and 11 in placebo group) completed the study. The two groups improved significantly in depression severity at the end of the study without significant difference (P: 0.560). The lipid profile of the two groups did not change significantly. Our study did not demonstrate antidepressive effects for saffron. We did not observe any lipid lowering effect in saffron group too. Of note is that our study is preliminary and larger studies with more patients and longer duration are needed to prove our results. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT 2013110915334.

Vitamin C as an adjuvant for treating major depressive disorder and suicidal behavior, a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There are some animal studies suggesting the possible role of vitamin C for treating depression. However, the efficacy of vitamin C for treating adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) has never been examined. METHODS: This 8-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial included adult patients with major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Twenty-one patients in the treatment group received citalopram plus vitamin C and the 22 patients in the control group received citalopram plus placebo. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was used to measure depressive symptoms at baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8. We also checked for the presence of adverse effects. RESULTS: While depression symptoms decreased in both groups during this trial, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .5). The rate of remission, partial response, and complete response was not different between the two groups. The rate of adverse effects were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Adding vitamin C to citalopram did not increase the efficacy of citalopram in MDD patients. Vitamin C plus citalopram is as effective as placebo plus citalopram for treating adult patients with suicidal behavior. No serious adverse effect for this combination was identified during this trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered at http://www.irct.ir . The registration number of this trial was: IRCT201312263930N31 . Date registered: 5 July 2014.