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Erectile dysfunction may be linked to vitamin D deficiency

Category: Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment

Men who experience erectile dysfunction may benefit from blood testing to measure their vitamin D levels. A new paper suggests that deficiencies of this nutrient may be behind many cases of sexual difficulty.

Dr. Richard Quinton, a consultant physician in endocrinology at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals in the UK, reported in the journal Dermato-Endocrinology that many of the causes of erectile dysfunction have been linked to low levels of vitamin D.

For example, the vast majority of cases of sexual difficulty in men stem from poor cardiovascular health. Evidence has linked heart health problems to low levels of vitamin D. Similarly, rates of erectile dysfunction are elevated in men with asthma, depression, multiple sclerosis and periodontal disease, all of which have been linked to vitamin D deficiency.

"Among the lifestyle changes the physician might typically promote in the context of erectile dysfunction, such as 'stop smoking, take more exercise, eat more healthily and lose weight', 'get more sunshine exposure to bare skin' should perhaps also be in the mix," Quinton said.