The inability to develop or sustain an erection long enough to have a pleasant sexual experience is known as erectile dysfunction (ED). It is due to many different factors, and vitamin deficiency could be one of them.
In this article, you’ll learn the links between vitamins and ED and how adding them to your diet could help treat or prevent this condition.
5 Vitamins for ED
Vitamins are organic compounds essential for every living being.
Despite us needing them in small quantities, lacking them can increase the risk of health problems like heart disease and osteoporosis.
Researchers have found that certain vitamin deficiencies could lead to ED based on how their existence — or lack thereof — affects the human body. Out of the 14 vitamins, studies show at least four of them have links to ED.
1. Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3, or niacin, regulates cholesterol and fats, aids in transforming nutrients into energy, and repairs DNA. In addition, it’s effective against dyslipidemia, which helps prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Though research remains limited, research shows that increased levels of niacin could help treat moderate to severe cases of ED [1]. By reducing high cholesterol, a healthy amount of this vitamin would severely mitigate a significant risk factor for ED.
2. Vitamin B9
Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid, improves red blood cell formation and ensures proper growth and function. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of congenital disabilities during pregnancy and may help treat depression and dementia.
A lack of vitamin B9 can impact nitric oxide metabolism, which is critical for increasing blood flow and achieving an erection. Another study has shown that vitamin B9 can prevent endothelial dysfunction, keeping the blood vessels in the body — and the penis — healthy [2].
3. Vitamin C
Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C protects against cardiovascular disease and immune system deficiencies and keeps cells, skin, and blood vessels healthy, among many other things. It doesn’t prevent the common cold, but it’s still an effective nutrient in fighting it.
Vitamin C doesn’t improve ED, but research suggests it can help the biochemical processes that lead to the release of nitric oxide [3].
4. Vitamin D
Among many other benefits, vitamin D improves calcium absorption, keeping teeth and bones healthy. Research suggests it may also help prevent autoimmune conditions like diabetes and arthritis.
As with vitamin B9, a lack of vitamin D can produce endothelial dysfunctions, resulting in ED. A study of 143 cases of ED found that almost 80% of patients had low levels of vitamin D and the aforementioned arterial condition [4].
5. Vitamin E
Vitamin E might not help ED on its own, but research shows men show improvement when they combine it ginseng. One study gave men 100 IU vitamin E, 67 mg Korean ginseng, and 40 mg Siberian ginseng or a placebo daily over the course of six weeks. The men taking the supplements saw significant improvement in erectile function [5].
Can Vitamin Deficiency Cause ED?
Not necessarily. ED has several potential causes — physical and psychological — and vitamin deficiency could result from underlying health issues. Nevertheless, studies are too few to confirm whether vitamin deficiency is a significant risk factor for ED.
Can Vitamin Supplements Cure or Prevent ED?
Vitamins can’t cure ED, but they can improve the symptoms. Nevertheless, vitamin supplements are usually less effective than prescription medications.
Furthermore, while studies have shown that vitamins can help with ED, they only do so in people who already have a vitamin deficiency. Supplements won’t do anything for you if your vitamin levels are normal.
As for preventing ED, vitamins would do so indirectly by improving organ function and blood flow. However, as we said before, vitamins won’t work if your body doesn’t need them.
That said, research shows typical treatments for cardiovascular disease — including eating healthy— can also improve ED [6].
Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a well-rounded diet, and getting frequent physical exercise can reduce the risk factors associated with ED and other diseases [7].
Conclusion: Vitamins for Erectile Dysfunction
While studies are few and limited in scope, they have found that a lack of vitamins B3, B9, C, and D could lead to ED or worsen the condition. They have also found that taking supplements can improve the quality of erections, even if they don’t cure ED.
Taking vitamin supplements and making changes to how you live can lower many of the risk factors for ED. Talking to a doctor or nurse could help you find many ways to improve and get suggestions for supplements or medications.
References Used
- Ghanbari-Homaie, S., Ataei-Almanghadim, K., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2021). Effect of vitamins on sexual function: A systematic review. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research.
- Zhang, Y., Zhang, W., Dai, Y., Jiang, H., & Zhang, X. (2021). Serum folic acid and erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sexual Medicine, 9(3), 100356.
- d’Uscio, L. V., Milstien, S., Richardson, D., Smith, L., & Katusic, Z. S. (2003). Long-term vitamin C treatment increases vascular tetrahydrobiopterin levels and nitric oxide synthase activity. Circulation research, 92(1), 88-95.
- Barassi, A., Pezzilli, R., Colpi, G. M., Corsi Romanelli, M. M., & Melzi d’Eril, G. V. (2014). Vitamin D and erectile dysfunction. The journal of sexual medicine, 11(11), 2792-2800.
- Najafabadi, B. T., Jafarinia, M., Ghamari, K., Shokraee, K., Tadayyon, F., & Akhondzadeh, S. (2021). Vitamin E and ginseng combined supplement for treatment of male erectile dysfunction: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial. Advances in Integrative Medicine, 8(1), 44-49.
- Gupta, B. P., Murad, M. H., Clifton, M. M., Prokop, L., Nehra, A., & Kopecky, S. L. (2011). The effect of lifestyle modification and cardiovascular risk factor reduction on erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of internal medicine, 171(20), 1797-1803.
- Gerbild, H., Larsen, C. M., Graugaard, C., & Josefsson, K. A. (2018). Physical activity to improve erectile function: a systematic review of intervention studies. Sexual medicine, 6(2), 75-89.
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