A joint research team from the Department of Urology at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and the R&D Center of Jung Kwan Jang received the International Research Award at the 8th International Joint Meeting of the Pan-Asian Men's Health Forum, held late last month.
Professors Kim Sae-woong (right) and and Shin Dong-ho hold up the award hold up the International Research Award they received at the 8th International Joint Meeting of the Pan-Asian Men's Health Forum held in Yonsei University from last Friday to Saturday. (Credit: Jung Kwan Jang)
The award is given to the most outstanding paper published in an international journal in the field of men’s health over the past year.
The awarded study, led by Professors Kim Sae-woong of the Department of Urology at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and Shin Dong-ho of the Department of Urology at Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, investigated the efficacy and safety of red ginseng oil in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and sexual dysfunction.
The research team conducted a randomized, controlled clinical trial involving 88 men aged 40 and above who were experiencing BPH symptoms. Participants were divided into two groups -- a control group and a red ginseng oil group.
The treatment group received two 500mg capsules of red ginseng oil daily (1,000mg/day) for 12 weeks.
Key clinical indicators such as the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were evaluated to assess the efficacy of the intervention.
After 12 weeks, the IPSS total score increased by 3.7 percent in the control group, while the red ginseng oil group showed a significant 50.5 percent improvement. The treatment group also demonstrated notable improvements in various IPSS subdomains, including urgency, frequency, voiding delay, residual urine sensation, interrupted flow, nocturia, weak stream, and overall quality of life.
The PSA level, a clinical marker produced by the prostate and used to estimate prostate size, increased in the control group but decreased in the red ginseng oil group, further suggesting its potential benefits in prostate health.
In terms of erectile function, the total IIEF-5 score decreased in the control group but improved by 28.1 percent in the red ginseng oil group. Each subdomain—including erectile firmness, sexual satisfaction, libido, and intercourse satisfaction—also showed marked enhancement.
“This award recognizes the global significance of our research, which demonstrates that red ginseng oil can safely and effectively alleviate symptoms of BPH without adverse effects,” Professor Kim said. “We will continue our efforts to explore safe and effective approaches to maintaining prostate health and improving the quality of life for men.”
The findings were published in **[The World Journal of Men’s Health.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37652660/)**