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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- UCSF Scientific Study
- 10 Year China Study
- Short Term US Study
- 2001 US User Survey
- The Study of Aging Male
I. University of California, San Francisco Scientific
Study: BetterMAN Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Formula Improves Erectile
Function in Rats—Rules Out Placebo Effect
The first scientific evidence of the beneficial effects of BetterMAN
on penile tissue was published in the prestigious Journal of Urology (November 2000). The JU article reported on a study conducted by leading
urologist, Tom Lue, MD at the University of California San Francisco,
Department of Urology.
Dr. Lue, known throughout the world for his influential research in the
field of impotency, wondered if any of the herbal dietary supplement formulas
which claimed to improve ED actually worked. Dr. Lue was intrigued by
the reported positive clinical outcomes of BetterMAN. He and his colleagues
set out to see if it indeed worked, and if there was a scientific basis
for its purported benefits. According to Dr. Lue, "The effectiveness of
a product for ED can be ascertained more accurately in animals than in
humans due to the absence of the placebo effect, which can run as high
as 40% in human studies."
With this in mind, Dr. Lue conducted his study with hypercholesterolemic
rats. Hypercholesterolemia is a factor known to contribute to ED in men.
Rats naturally develop ED around the age of 24 months, which is equivalent
to 70 human years. Previous research found that rats consistently develop
ED after being fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 4 months.
Accordingly, rats in this study were fed a 1% cholesterol diet for 4
months. During the last two-month period, two groups of rats were fed
the BetterMAN formula in their drinking water at two different dosages:
25 mg/kg per day and 50 mg/kg per day, while one group was fed water only.
A separate control group of rats was fed a normal diet. At the end of
the 4 months, 100% of the BetterMAN-treated rats regained their erectile
function as evidenced by the normal peak-sustained intracavernous pressure,
while all the rats in the non-treated groups remained impotent.
The groups receiving the BetterMAN formula showed no significant difference
in cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, and neuronal and endothelial
nitric oxide synthase (NOS) levels compared to the control groups. The
most interesting results were the significant increases in membrane caveolae,
caveolin-1, and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) protein levels
in the penile tissue of the BetterMAN-treated groups.
Caveolin-1 is the major component of caveolae, small bulb-shaped invaginations
at or near the cell surface, which act to sequester membrane-bound ligands
away from extra cellular space and facilitate their delivery to the cell
cytoplasm. UCSF researchers suggest that the substantial increases of
caveolin-1 and caveolae may compensate or overcome the harmful effects
of hypercholesterolemia on the smooth muscle and endothelial cells, and
thus, reverse erectile dysfunction in the treated groups.
Basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) protein level was also significantly
higher in the BetterMAN-treated group as revealed by Western blot. This
finding suggests that treatment with BetterMAN results in up-regulation
of bFGF, which may reverse the suppressive effect of hypercholesterolemia
on the smooth muscle and endothelium.
The significance of this study is that it rules out the placebo effect.
The study also indicates that the activities of BetterMAN are very different
from that of PDE-5 inhibitors, such as Viagra. Dr. Lue and his colleagues
concluded that it is likely that more factors may be involved in the formula's
ability to treat ED, and that larger scale studies are needed to determine
the mechanisms of action of the formula and its effect on other organ
systems.
II. Ten-year Study of 5,000 Chinese Men Shows
BetterMAN 75% Effective in Improving Sexual and Urinary Functions
Researchers at two of the largest medical hospitals in China compiled
data on 5,000 men who had taken the BetterMAN formula between1988 and
1997. Patients ranged in age from 35 to 65 and exhibited clinical symptoms
of male sexual dysfunction: erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation,
low libido; as well as urinary problems. Physicians questioned patients
regarding each symptom and recorded improvements (if any) based on each
patient's self-assessment during office visits at the end of each cycle
of treatment.
After taking the BetterMAN formula for 3x20-day cycles, 95% of patients
reported various degrees of improvement in sexual performance and urinary
control. Seventy-five percent reported a high degree of satisfaction.
In most case reports, patients only noticed small improvements after the
first cycle with major symptoms subsiding after completing 3x20-day cycles
of the formula.
Fifty patients who used the formula continuously for 3 years reported
experiencing an improvement in overall wellbeing, greater energy levels,
and an ability to maintain their desired level of sexual performance and
urinary control.
The compiled data showed BetterMAN to be a well-balanced formula providing
the following benefits:
- Promotes both yin and yang functions of the kidney
- Enhances ability to attain and maintain an erection
- Improves sexual drive and libido
- Counters premature ejaculation
- Decreases nighttime urinary frequency, and urinary urgency and hesitancy
- Supports prostate health
- No side effects; safe to use
This data provides evidence that the BetterMAN formula is effective for
Chinese men. However, an herbal formula proven effective with one ethnic
group may not be equally effective for another due to a wide variety of
factors, e.g., diet and metabolic differences. Prior to its introduction
into the US market a study was designed to determine if BetterMAN would
have a similar success rate with American men.
III. Short-term Study with American Men: BetterMAN
Found to be 70% Effective for Improving Sexual Functions and/or Urinary
Control
Results from a 1997-98 independent study of American men indicate that
even taken short-term, BetterMAN is 70% effective at enhancing sexual
functions and promoting urinary control. In the study, 45 men between
the ages of 41 and 71 were recruited to take BetterMAN at the suggested
3x20-day cycle (2 capsules daily after meals with a 3 day break between
each bottle). The study was modeled after the A Brief Male Sexual Function
Inventory developed at Harvard University to quantitatively measure the
effects of BetterMAN pre-post three cycles of use.
The following results were tabulated by a third party:
- 70%: Improved either sexual or urinary functions
- 60%: Improved sexual functions
- 68%: Improved urinary functions
Percentage of participants noticing improvements versus length of treatment:
25% after 1st cycle (bottle)
55% after 2nd cycle
70% after 3rd cycle
There were no side effects or adverse reactions, and after the study,
90% of participants elected to continue taking BetterMAN.
(From "RESULTS FROM THE BetterMAN PRODUCT SURVEY", March 1998 by Pathfinder
Research Group, Acton, Massachusetts. BetterMAN, formerly NuMAN)
IV. 2001 Survey of American Users Confirms Claimed
BetterMAN Sexual and Urinary Health Benefits
Two hundred and thirty BetterMAN users participated in a recent survey
conducted between April 24 and May 8 2001. Participants were asked to
complete an on-line questionnaire to assess whether BetterMAN had helped
their sexual and/or urinary issues. A third party tabulated the results.
Of the 230 respondents, one-third had taken less than the recommended
3 bottles of BetterMAN, one-third had taken 3 bottles, and one-third had
taken more than 3 bottles. Seventy percent were between 45 and 64 years
old, 67% were married, and 96% described their current health status as
either excellent (49%) or good (47%).
Even though 76 (33%) of the respondents had not finished taking the recommended
3-bottle cycle, the effectiveness rate of the BetterMAN formula with these
respondents supports previous clinical results. Of those taking BetterMAN
for the purpose of improving or enhancing a specific sexual and/or urinary
health function, the following percentage noted an improvement:
- Decrease nighttime bathroom trips (91%)
- Improve urinary control (91%)
- Improve spontaneity of erections (84%)
- Improve sexual desire (78%)
- Improve erections (76%)
- Improve prostate health (76%)
- Delay ejaculation (64%)
More than half of the respondents (53%) claimed to have used Viagra,
and 29% of those continued to use Viagra concurrently with BetterMAN in
order to "Get the best of both products." Of those who had stopped using
Viagra, the main reasons for no longer using it were:
- Immediate side effects (40%)
- Prefer a natural alternative (37%)
- Not as effective as expected (38%)
Of those men who had never used Viagra, 54% cited a preference for a
natural approach. Overall, men in the survey expressed a desire for a
product offering a broad spectrum of benefits for their sexual health,
rather than focusing on erection only.
V. The Study of Aging Male
Presentation at Canadian Society for the Study of Aging Male (CSSAM)/International Society for the Study of Aging Male (ISSAM) North American Congress on the Aging Male Vancouver, B.C., Canada, February, 2005
Effects of A Chinese Herbal Formula BetterMAN On Male Testosterone and HDL
Sergey Dzugan, MD, Keith Lennertz, BS, Dana Shapiro, Susan Luchik, BSMT, William Faloon, Life Extension Foundation, FL;Gottfried Kellermann, PhD, Neurosciences, WI; Peipei Wishnow, PhD, Interceuticals, MA.
OBJECTIVES: The Chinese herbal formula BetterMAN was shown to significantly improve erectile response in a hypercholesterolemic animal model study (1). Clinical evidence has shown that the formula improves male sexual/urinary functions and general wellbeing. We examine the formula’s effect on male free testosterone, lipid profile and related biological parameters.
METHODS: Fourteen men aged 45 to 68 participated in the study taking 2 capsules daily for 60 days. Saliva andfasting blood samples were collected before 9:30 AM on days 0, 20, 40, and 60. Saliva samples were assayed for testosterone levels using a Direct RIA method. Serum samples were assayed for lipid panels and other biological parameters. The serum free testosterone was measured using a Direct Analog RIA method. All data was normalized for analysis.
RESULTS: Twelve men completed the study. Saliva testosterone levels were significantly increased after 60 days (34% average increase, n=8, p< 0.05). HDL levels were also significantly increased after 60 days (10% average increase, n=12, p< 0.02). There were no changes in PSA, Estradiol, DHEA, SHBG, LDL, TG, or total cholesterol levels. The Direct Analog RIA did not show free testosterone changes in serum as otherwise observed in saliva testosterone, confirming AACE’s guideline that Analog methodology may not be suitable for clinical evaluation (2).
CONCLUSION: BetterMAN formula significantly increased saliva testosterone levels, providing a potential explanation for the formula’s broad benefits to men. The fact that the testosterone increases were observed only after 60 days indicates the increased testosterone was endogenous. There were no changes in PSA or Estradiol levels, supporting the formula’s long standing safety record. Surprisingly, HDL levels were significantly increased. Taken together with the elevated caveolin-1 and caveolae in the cavernous endothelia and smooth muscle cells shown in the previous study (1), BetterMAN formula may modulate a novel HDL-caveolae mediated cholesterol efflux process to improve cardiovascular healthand erectile response. These positive findings warrant continued investigation.
Disclosure: This study was funded and conducted by Life Extension Foundation.
 
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