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The efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens extract for the treatment of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Zhang K, Guo RQ, Chen SW, Chen B, Xue XB, Chen S, Huang J, Liu M et al.

World journal of urology, 2021

226 participants · 9 citations

Abstract

Purpose: To perform a placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Serenoa repens extract (SRE) for the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter, clinical phase 4 study of 221 patients with CP/CPPS across 11 centers. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive SRE or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in total score on the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Secondary efficacy endpoints included improvements within each domain of NIH-CPSI, clinical response rate, and International Index of Erectile Function 5 items (IIEF-5).

Results: In total, 226 patients were enrolled and randomized between January 2017 and June 2018. Of these 221 patients were included in the intent-to-treat analysis: 148 in the SRE group and 73 patients in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo, SRE led to statistically significant improvements in the NIH-CPSI total score and sub-scores. The significant improvements of NIH-CPSI scores were established after 2 weeks from the first dose, and continued to the end of the treatment. Furthermore, a significantly higher rate of patients achieved a clinical response in the SRE group compared with that in the placebo group (73.0% vs 32.9%, P < 0.0001). Only minor adverse events were observed across the entire study population.

Conclusions:…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 226 participants or records.

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