January 16, 2018
Sexual Medicine Reviews
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- Sexual dysfunction is common in men, with up to 52% of men older than 40 having erectile dysfunction. It is currently unclear if various diet trends have any impact on men’s sexual health. To answer this question, the authors performed a literature review of articles from 1977 to 2017 to evaluate the effect of diets on androgen levels and semen parameters. They identified 13 studies that evaluated diet and erectile dysfunction, and 15 studies that evaluated diet and testosterone. The Western diet is associated with diminished semen parameters. Diets that encourage weight loss (low-fat, low-calorie) may improve androgen levels and semen parameters. The Mediterranean diet was found to improve erectile dysfunction.
- While the results are limited by recall bias and the retrospective nature of this study, the study does provide useful information to guide men’s health. Recommending a Mediterranean diet or low-fat/low-calorie diet may benefit men with sexual health issues. Future prospectively collected studies are needed.– Michael H. Johnson, MD
Diet, Erectile Dysfunction and Testosterone
This paper was a literature review of 13 studies on diet and erectile function (ED) and 15 studies on diet and testosterone levels. This review can only look for trends in the literature and includes observational studies that are at risk for recall bias.
That being said, there were consistent findings showing that a plant-based Mediterranean Diet is associated with an improvement in erectile function and a rise in testosterone. Although raising testosterone may be more related to losing weight than to the foods that were eaten.
How does diet improve erectile dysfunction?
Eating more plants, particularly root vegetables that are rich in nitrates get converted to nitrites in the gut with the help of the microbiome. These nitrites then get converted to nitric oxide in the endothelium. Increasing nitric oxide is how our ED drugs work. So, think of root vegetables such as beets, carrots, ginger and turmeric as nutritional Viagra. Eating a Mediterranean Diet also reduces systemic inflammation that can also improve endothelial function.
How does diet raise Testosterone?
As weight is gained, aromatase levels increase converting testosterone to estrogen. A man with female pattern weight gain (hips and breasts) likely has too much estrogen. Losing weight with the help of improving nutrition and exercise will reduce aromatase and shift the conversion from estrogen back to testosterone improving sexual function. Losing weight is likely more important than the foods that are eaten for raising testosterone.
Nutrition and weight loss is an ideal place to start to improve testosterone levels and sexual function. It supports the body’s intrinsic abilities to increase its own androgens. Once we put someone on testosterone externally, testicular testosterone production is inhibited as the body senses it is getting enough from another source.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Male sexual dysfunctions are more prevalent with aging. With increasing evidence about the impact of various diets on chronic diseases, there is a growing interest in establishing an association between various diets and men’s health and sexual dysfunction.
AIM
To review the current literature examining diet and dietary patterns and male sexual health.
METHODS
A thorough literature search of peer-reviewed publications on the association between diet and dietary patterns and male sexual health (erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and infertility) was carried using the online PubMed database from 1977 through 2017 with the keywords diet, dietary patterns, erectile dysfunction, male hypogonadism, low testosterone, and male infertility.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Summary of significant findings on erectile function, androgen levels, and semen analysis parameters in relation to diets or dietary patterns.
RESULTS
Thirteen studies on diet and erectile dysfunction and 15 studies on diet and testosterone levels were reviewed, including observational studies and randomized controlled trials. Thirteen studies analyzing the relation between diet and semen analysis parameters were reviewed but consisted of only cross-sectional and case-control studies.
CONCLUSION
Evidence exists demonstrating the association between various diets and men’s sexual health. Erectile dysfunction appears to lessen in men adhering to the Mediterranean diet. Obese and overweight men who lose weight through low-fat, low-calorie diets seem to have improvements in their erectile function and testosterone levels. Furthermore, a Western diet is associated with lower semen quality. Future prospective and randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish the benefit of diet and dietary patterns on men’s sexual health.
Story Source
Journal Abstract