June 10-16 is designated Men’s Health Week, and so several posts this week will address men’s health concerns. Today’s post will examine vitamin D and it’s potential association with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Data from the CDC indicate that approximately 25% of Americans are at risk for vitamin D inadequacy, while 8% are at risk for deficiency. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES)  shows over 41% to be vitamin D deficient in their sample of nearly 4500 adults, with African-Americans and Hispanics generally having worse levels of vitamin D deficiency.

Original research from Italy shows a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a group of men with vascular ED, compared to men without vascular ED. 143 men were enrolled from a hormone clinic in Milan, Italy. The participants were divided into vascular ED, non-vascular ED, and borderline ED groups, based on penile doppler results. These groups were then compared based on various lab tests, including Vitamin D, lipids, and testosterone levels, among others.

The results showed a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the men with vascular ED, compared to men with non-vascular ED. Vitamin D levels were also lower in the men with more severe ED.

It is believed that normal vitamin D levels are important to healthy functioning of the endothelium, which lines the blood vessels. The results of this study indicate that low vitamin D levels are a potentially modifiable risk factor for ED of a vascular cause. If you are developing ED, you may want to get your vitamin D level checked.

“You take the healthiest diet in the world, if you gave those people vitamins, they would be twice as healthy. So vitamins are valuable”–  Robert Atkins MD

(Source- Journal of Sexual Medicine 2014;11)

This blog is a review of published and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone.