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Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels is essential for a slew of bodily functions, from promoting bone health to strengthening the immune system.
In fact, vitamin D influences your body in more ways than one—with one particular notable body area of influence being the health of your sexual organs.
According to clinical studies, vitamin D and erectile dysfunction are intimately linked. Vitamin D levels regulate the physiology and anatomy of the penis, keeping it healthy and geared up for sexual activities.
Conversely, if there’s an abnormal level of vitamin D in the blood, it could adversely limit your erectile function.
With 5.9% of the US population suffering from a Vitamin D deficiency, the sad truth is that many people are at risk of developing erectile dysfunction.
And while having excessive Vitamin D levels in the body is vastly more uncommon, the outcome of this health state isn’t good news either.
Let’s look into the Vitamin D-erectile dysfunction relationship and further look into ways you can treat erectile dysfunction.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Has your willy ever failed you in the lead-up and during sex? Has it happened multiple times?
If so, then that’s a classic case of erectile dysfunction. This sexual dysfunction is marked by a consistent inability to get or stay erect.
While many cases of erectile dysfunction are temporary, some people can be affected by this condition for years, which can displace anyone with a once-active sex life to a grinding halt.
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
Due to its multifactorial nature, erectile dysfunction could stem from several sources, from physical ailments to psychological distress.
Furthermore, erectile dysfunction doesn’t go away on its own, and you’ll need to actively treat it and the underlying condition to overcome this dysfunction.
Here are some of the most common diseases that are often associated with erectile dysfunction:
- Heart and cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sleep apnea
Another likely cause of ED is vitamin deficiency. A lack of vitamins and supplements in the body, particularly folic acid, Vitamin C, and Vitamin B, have the potential to exacerbate symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Male sexual dysfunction could also be attributed to low vitamin D levels. In the following section, we’ll go over what vitamin D does, and then eventually how a low Vitamin D status can cause ED.
What Does Vitamin D Do?
Adults are often told by doctors and medical experts to take at least 1,500 IU of Vitamin D a day. This is the equivalent of a little over two pills of 800-IU vitamin D.
If you wonder why we should take that many vitamin supplements in a day, here are some of the many functions of Vitamin D to give you a glimpse of its importance in the body:
- Promotes bone health
- Supports the immune system
- Regulates cardiovascular health
- Facilitates nitric oxide production
- Aids in muscle function and strength
- Supports cognitive function
- Helps regulate insulin levels
- Supports respiratory health
- Improves mental well-being
- Supports wound healing
Vitamin D supplementation also indirectly promotes sexual health thanks to its beneficial effects on nitric oxide and testosterone production.
Read below to see the connection in more detail.
The Link Between Vitamin D and Erectile Dysfunction
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in the regulation of erectile function. Too little of it can cause a wide range of side effects. This is because the D vitamin is responsible for facilitating blood flow and producing a healthy supply of sex hormones like testosterone.
One of the key mechanisms through which vitamin D affects erectile function is its impact on blood vessels.
Vitamin D helps maintain the health and functionality of blood vessels, ensuring optimal blood flow to the penis during sexual arousal. Inadequate levels of vitamin D can impair this phenomenon, leading to reduced blood flow and erectile difficulties.
Furthermore, testosterone production is also a key function of vitamin D in the body. Testosterone is responsible for libido and sexual interest. Vitamin D receptors are present in testosterone-producing cells, and optimal levels of vitamin D aid the synthesis of this hormone.
Lastly, diseases like diabetes and obesity are often linked to vitamin D deficiency. These aforementioned conditions are also primary links to male erectile dysfunction—and severe cases at that.
Treating Erectile Dysfunction Related to Vitamin D Deficiency
If you suspect that your body’s lack of vitamin D supplements is causing erectile dysfunction, don’t worry.
This can be reversed by making simple lifestyle changes, particularly eating a diet that’s rich in Vitamin D foods and taking regular dietary supplements rich in the vitamin.
That said, vitamin D alone isn’t always the primary actor for your deteriorating sexual function. Furthermore, simple lifestyle changes may not always be rough to improve erectile function for good. You may need actual clinical treatment from a medical professional.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can go about increasing blood flow to the penis and gaining some action in your sex life. Here are a couple of these treatment plans:
1. Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Therapy
ED therapy involves the use of topical gels, creams, and injections directly applied or administered to the penis.
These treatments, often containing medications like alprostadil or sildenafil, present sufferers a pathway to keep themselves sexually active despite their ED diagnosis.
2. RestoreWave Therapy
Sometimes called acoustic wave therapy, RestoreWave therapy is a non-invasive ED treatment that utilizes low-intensity shockwaves to stimulate blood vessel growth.
This, in turn, helps improve blood flow and facilitate erections.
3. Vacuum Erectile Device
A vacuum erectile device (VED) is another effective clinical treatment option.
This treatment plan requires you to put a specialized vacuum around the penis. When turned on, it draws blood into the penis, allowing it to become erect.
4. Prosthesis Placement Surgery
If you’re dealing with Peyronie’s disease or a severe case of ED, and have exhausted all other treatment options, you may be prescribed prosthesis placement surgery.
This surgical procedure involves the insertion of a prosthesis device—typically a malleable rod or an inflatable device—in the penis. This procedure is generally deemed effective and can help men get an erection without relying on medication.
Get ED Treatment at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida’s Preferred Men’s Medical Center
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for maintaining good health. Too little of it can cause preventable health risks, including sexual dysfunction.
Want to improve your sexual health? Contact us today at Preferred Men’s Medical Center for a free consultation. We provide ED treatments, PE treatments, andropause treatments, and more customized options for everyone in need of a health checkup.
Reclaim your sexual health by booking a consultation today.