The Link Between Erectile Dysfunction And Vitamin D Deficiency

The cause of erectile dysfunction will sometimes be difficult to identify. Luckily, researchers are working hard on figuring out all of the culprits.

If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, you may want to get your vitamin D levels checked. As weird as it may seem, a vitamin deficiency could be contributing to impotence. Here’s everything you need to know about the link.

The Link

Researchers have found out that men who suffer from erectile dysfunction are more likely than other guys to have a vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiencies contribute to a wide array of medical problems. A few of the most common issues attributed to the lack of the so-called sunshine vitamin include the following:

The first condition linked to a vitamin D deficiency could be the one explaining why such men are also likely to experience erectile dysfunction.

A hard erection is all about proper blood flow, especially in the smaller peripheral blood vessels. Heart disease and cardiovascular problems rank among the most prominent risk factors for impotence. A vitamin D deficiency aggravates heart problems, in turn making it more likely for men to also suffer from erectile dysfunction.

The Evidence

One major study has been carried out, establishing the link between erectile dysfunction and a vitamin D deficiency.

The results of the study were published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in 2014. The men who suffered from severe ED had much lower vitamin D levels than the guys suffering from mild ED and the ones having a healthy erectile response. Of the men having vitamin D deficiency, 45 percent suffered from ED. The same applied to solely 24 percent of the men having normal vitamin D levels.

Another clinical experiment involved data analysis of more than 3,400 men aged 20 or older. All of the men did not have heart disease and 16 percent of the sample experienced erectile dysfunction.

Researchers found out that 35 percent of the guys suffering from erectile dysfunction had a vitamin D deficiency, as well. Only 29 percent of the men that didn’t suffer from erectile dysfunction had a vitamin deficiency.

The studies are observational. More research will be required to find out whether the vitamin D deficiency is the specific cause of impotence. Researchers will also need to figure out if increasing the vitamin levels to a normal range is going to do anything in terms of reversing ED.

Getting Sufficient Quantities of Vitamin D

While more research will be required to identify the link between ED and a vitamin D deficiency, getting sufficient quantities of the vitamin is certainly a good idea. As you’ve already seen, vitamin D deficiencies contribute to an array of serious health issues.

One of the primary and easiest options involves exposing the skin to sunlight. There’s no need to do hours of tanning in order to get sufficient quantities of vitamin D. The color of the skin, the local climate and the time of the day during which the exposure takes place will all determine the quantities of vitamin D produced.

Certain foods are also good sources of vitamin D. Fatty fish like salmon, mushrooms, fortified milk, egg yolks, fortified cereals, beef liver and cod liver oil are all excellent sources of vitamin D.

Finally, if you still find yourself to be deficient in the essential vitamin, you can get the necessary quantities through a supplement. Supplements are great because there’s no risk of skin burns or melanoma. Keep in mind that the right dosage is essential since too much vitamin D can be toxic.

If you want to get a vitamin D supplement, talk to your doctor and have your vitamin levels tested. A physician will be capable of recommending the right dose and you’ll also get suggestions about lifestyle changes that can help you overcome the deficit.