Table 3 Comparison of sexual function subscales, depression and anxiety among study groups
Variable | Saffron + Vitamin E (n = 23) | Vitamin E + Placebo of saffron (n = 22) | P-valuea | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (SDb) | Median [Per 25 to 75] | Mean (SDb) | Median [Per 25 to 75] | ||
Desire (Score range: 1.2 to 6) | Â | Â | Â | ||
 Baseline | 2.7 (0.8) | 2.4 [2.4 to 3.6] | 3.3 (0.5) | 3.0 [2.7 to 3.6] | 0.043 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 3.9 (0.5) | 3.6 [3.6 to 4.2] | 3.4 (0.7) | 3.6 [2.4 to 3.9] | < 0.001 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 4.5 (0.4) | 4.8 [4.2 to 4.8] | 3.8 (0.6) | 3.6 [3.6 to 4.2] | < 0.001 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 3.9 (0.6) | 3.6 [3.6 to 4.3] | 3.2 (0.7) | 3.6 [2.4 to 3.6] | < 0.001 |
Arousal (Score range: 0 to 6) | |||||
 Baseline | 3.1 (0.8) | 3.3 [2.5 to 3.6] | 3.4 (0.6) | 3.3 [3.0 to 3.6] | 0.385 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 4.4 (0.5) | 4.5 [3.9 to 4.8] | 3.6 (0.7) | 3.6 [3.1 to 4.0] | < 0.001 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 4.9 (0.6) | 5.1 [4.8 to 5.4] | 3.9 (0.6) | 3.9 [3.6 to 4.5] | < 0.001 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 4.4 (0.6) | 4.6 [3.9 to 4.8] | 3.5 (0.6) | 3.6 [3.3 to 3.9] | < 0.001 |
Lubrication (Score range: 0 to 6) | |||||
 Baseline | 4.1 (0.8) | 4.2 [3.6 to 4.6] | 4.5 (1.3) | 4.5 [3.1 to 5.5] | 0.424 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 4.7 (0.8) | 4.5 [3.9 to 5.4] | 4.7 (1.3) | 4.8 [3.4 to 5.4] | 0.053 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 5.0 (0.7) | 4.9 [4.5 to 5.5] | 4.8 (1.1) | 5.4 [4.2 to 5.7] | 0.004 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 4.8 (0.8) | 4.8 [3.9 to 5.4] | 4.8 (1.2) | 5.4 [3.9 to 6.0] | 0.053 |
Orgasm (Score range: 0 to 6) | |||||
 Baseline | 3.4 (1.0) | 3.6 [2.8 to 4.2] | 3.5 (0.8) | 3.6 [2.8 to 4.0] | 0.937 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 4.8 (0.6) | 4.8 [4.4 to 5.2] | 3.9 (1.0) | 4.0 [3.0 to 4.6] | < 0.001 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 5.3 (4.0) | 5.4 [5.2 to 5.6] | 4.3 (0.9) | 4.4 [4.0 to 4.8] | < 0.001 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 4.7 (0.7) | 5.0 [4.0 to 5.2] | 3.7 (0.9) | 3.6 [3.2 to 4.8] | < 0.001 |
Satisfaction (Score range: 0 to 6) | |||||
 Baseline | 3.9 (1.0) | 4.0 [3.2 to 4.8] | 4.3 (0.8) | 4.4 [3.6 to 4.8] | 0.197 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 5.0 (0.7) | 4.8 [4.8 to 5.4] | 4.4 (0.8) | 4.8 [3.6 to 4.8] | < 0.001 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 5.7 (0.5) | 6.0 [5.2 to 6.0] | 4.6 (0.8) | 4.8 [4.4 to 4.8] | < 0.001 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 5.4 (0.8) | 5.8 [4.8 to 6.0] | 4.3 (0.9) | 4.4 [3.6 to 4.8] | < 0.001 |
Pain (Score range: 0 to 6) | |||||
 Baseline | 5.3 (0.9) | 6.0 [4.4 to 6.0] | 4.9 (1.1) | 5.2 [4.2 to 6.0] | 0.281 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 5.4 (0.7) | 6.0 [4.8 to 6.0] | 5.1 (0.9) | 4.8 [4.8 to 6.0] | 0.556 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 5.5 (0.7) | 6.0 [4.8 to 6.0] | 5.2 (0.9) | 5.6 [4.4 to 6.0] | 0.827 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 5.5 (0.8) | 6.0 [5.1 to 6.0] | 5.1 (1.0) | 5.2 [4.8 to 6.0] | 0.704 |
Depression (Score range: 0 to 21) | |||||
 Baseline | 4.6 (2.8) | 5.0 [3.0 to 6.5] | 3.7 (2.4) | 3.0 [2.5 to 6.0] | 0.142 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 2.5 (1.7) | 3.0 [2.0 to 4.0] | 3.1 (2.0) | 3.0 [2.0 to 4.5] | 0.011 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 1.6 (1.5) | 2.0 [0.0 to 3.0] | 3.0 (2.3) | 3.0 [1.0 to 4.0] | 0.005 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 2.4 (1.8) | 2.0 [1.0 to 4.0] | 3.5 (2.4) | 3.0 [2.0 to 5.0] | 0.007 |
Anxiety (Score range: 0 to 20) | |||||
 Baseline | 4.1 (2.6) | 4.0 [2.0 to 6.0] | 4.7 (3.3) | 4.0 [2.0 to 6.0] | 0.799 |
 4 weeks after intervention | 2.0 (1.5) | 1.0 [1.0 to 3.0] | 3.9 (3.0) | 3.0 [2.0 to 6.0] | 0.016 |
 8 weeks after intervention | 1.5 (1.3) | 1.0 [0.7 to 2.2] | 3.3 (2.8) | 3.0 [1.0 to 4.0] | 0.177 |
 4 weeks after the end of intervention | 1.5 (1.6) | 1.0 [0.0 to 2.0] | 4.1 (3.4) | 3.0 [2.0 to 5.0] | 0.002 |