Since its discovery in the 1950s, sildenafil (generic for Viagra) has been used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension – a potentially fatal heart condition. However, recent revelations have linked the substance to other health problems, including strokes and heart failure. Could there be a natural alternative to sildenafil?
Derived from an African plant, Dracaena argentea, sildenafil has been shown in studies to have potent anti-angiogenic properties. In simple terms, this means that it inhibits the growth of new blood vessels, or vasoconstriction.
It’s a discovery that has major implications for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. But how effective is sildenafil as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension, and is there a natural alternative to it?
Potent Inhibitor Of Angiogenesis
Sildenafil’s anti-angiogenic properties were first reported by Japanese researchers in 2012. Since then, there have been numerous studies corroborating the findings.
In one such study, Japanese researchers compared the effects of sildenafil to those of a placebo in a double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving patients with erectile dysfunction. Those on sildenafil reported improved erectile function and an increased frequency of sex events. In addition, there was evidence to suggest that sildenafil improved the overall quality of patients’ lives, especially their mental health and well-being.
These findings were later replicated in a study by Italian researchers where similar improvements in both erectile function and the overall life quality of patients were again demonstrated.
Safe And Effective In Treatment Of Cardiovascular Disease
Not only does sildenafil inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in cancer patients, but it also has potent vasodilatory effects. This makes it a potentially useful drug in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In fact, several studies have shown that sildenafil is safe and effective in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
For instance, in an open-label study of patients with heart failure, 86% of those who were treated with sildenafil reported improvements in their condition. Furthermore, 83% of patients in another open-label study of patients with chronic heart failure were able to discontinue their use of diuretics – a type of medication used to treat fluid buildup in the body – following treatment with sildenafil. Importantly, sildenafil appeared to improve the survival rate of these patients, especially those who were already taking diuretics.
In addition, patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension have also reported improvements in function and exercise capacity following treatment with sildenafil. While no studies have directly compared the effects of sildenafil in patients with pulmonary hypertension to those of a placebo, existing data suggests that sildenafil is at least as effective as traditional therapy in this group of patients. Sildenafil has also been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in the treatment of both erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension.
Other Rerealmed Health Effects
It is well established that sildenafil has vasodilatory effects, but emerging evidence suggests that it may also have anti-tumor properties. This was first demonstrated in a study by the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Minnesota where researchers found that sildenafil inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro. They later showed that this inhibition was due to sildenafil’s ability to increase the expression of genes involved in apoptosis (programmed cell death).
This exciting discovery has major implications for the treatment of prostate cancer. However, more research is needed to better understand the molecular basis of sildenafil’s anti-tumor effects. Could sildenafil be used in the future to treat other types of cancer?
In addition to inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer cells, sildenafil has also been shown to increase the expression of genes involved in cellular detoxification and antioxidant defense. These effects may help to explain why several studies have reported that sildenafil is neuroprotective, meaning it can protect the brain from damage caused by stroke or trauma. Interestingly, in both cases, the substances protective effects appear to be due, at least in part, to their anti-angiogenic properties.
Future Of Cardiovascular Medicine
While the vast majority of existing data demonstrate that sildenafil is a safe and effective treatment for cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction, many unanswered questions remain. For instance, it is not known whether long-term use of sildenafil might be harmful. It is also not known whether there are any adverse effects from sildenafil when used in combination with other medications, such as aspirin or statins. In addition, no clinical trial data exist to determine the most effective dosing regime for sildenafil in these populations.
Despite these gaps in knowledge, sildenafil provides physicians with an important new tool in the fight against cardiovascular disease. In the near future, it is possible that doctors might be able to prescribe sildenafil as a first-line treatment for both erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension – a particularly advantageous situation for the patients that are benefited by the drug. In the meantime, however, doctors might consider using sildenafil as an adjunct to other treatments for these diseases – especially in cases where these treatments are not producing the expected results.