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Product Review: Sexual Enhancement Supplements (L-Arginine, Yohimbe, Horny Goat Weed) |
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HOW PRODUCTS WERE EVALUATED:
How Products were Selected:
Products selected represent those commonly sold and/or available nationally in the U.S. ConsumerLab.com purchased products on the open market through retail stores, on-line retailers, catalogues, or multi-level marketing companies. Products were not accepted directly from manufacturers.
Testing Methods:
L-Arginine products were tested for their total L-arginine content, while Yohimbe products were tested for their yohimbine or total yohimbe alkaloid content and Epimedium products were tested for their icariin content. All products were first analyzed for their respective constituents using a High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) assay in an independent laboratory. Arginine and yohimbe products were assayed utilizing USP Monograph methods. Products not passing this initial assay were tested in a second independent laboratory utilizing a similar HPLC assay.
All products were tested for sildenafil citrate, tadalafil and vardenaifil or their analogs by HPLC/MS/MS.
The identities of the products were not disclosed to the laboratories performing the testing.
Passing Score: *
To pass testing, a product must meet the following criteria:
L-Arginine Products:
- Must meet 100% of label claim for L-arginine (free base) or L-arginine complexes (e.g. arginine hydrochloride).
Yohimbe Products:
- Provide all of the following information in its labeling for yohimbe (as required by the FDA):
- The proper plant name (Yohimbe; Pausinystalia johimbe K. Schum. or Corynanthe yohimbe K. Schum.):
- The part of the plant used (bark);
- The form of yohimbe used (e.g., bark powder or bark extract);
- The amount of yohimbe bark powder or bark extract per pill or amount in grams (g) or milligrams (mg) [1 gram = 1,000 milligrams].
- Contain a minimum of 100% and not exceed 135% of label claim for yohimbine or total yohimbe alkaloid content, with a minimum of of 0.19% of yohimbine and 2.7% total yohimbe alkaloids for bark powder preparations.
Epimedium Products:
- Provide all of the following information in its labeling for yohimbe (as required by the FDA):
- The proper plant name (Barrenwort or Epimedium; Epimedium grandiflorum Morr.(barrenwort), Epimedium brevicornum Maxim.(epimedium), Epimedium koreanum Nakai (epimedium), Epimedium sagittatum);
- The part of the plant used (dried aerial part of the plant (leaves and some stems/stalks));
- The form of epimedium used (e.g., powder or extract);
- The amount of epimedium powder or extract per pill or dose in grams (g) or milligrams (mg) [1 gram = 1,000 milligrams]
- Contain a minimum of 100% of label claim for icariin or if a claim is not made, a minimum of 1% icariin for aerial plant powder (Pharmacopeia People's Republic of China; English Edition, 1997).
All Products:
- Must not contain any amount of sildenafil citrate, tadalafil and vardenaifil or their analogs.
- Must meet FDA labeling requirements.
A "Pass" was based on meeting the above criteria in either the first or second rounds of testing.
Passing scores allow for specific margins of technical error associated with each analysis. ConsumerLab.com reserves the right to disqualify a product at any time from passing its testing if it considers such product to present a safety risk or to provide misleading or inaccurate information in its labeling.
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