In a new study published in JAMA Network Open, scientists show that diet can significantly influence the risk of impotence in men aged 40-75 years.
What do we know about the connection between impotence and diet and lifestyle
It is known that the modifiable risk factors (those that can be influenced) for erectile dysfunction (impotence) and heart disease are largely the same. These include smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, arterial hypertension, and increased levels of “bad” cholesterol in the blood. The occurrence of erectile dysfunction may indicate a high likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease in the future.
Lifestyle and diet changes are widely recommended to prevent heart disease. However, their preventive effect on the risk of impotence has been poorly studied.
Several small studies have shown that lifestyle changes and weight loss improve erections in men at high risk for cardiovascular disease. However, scientists have paid less attention to the effects of diet. There is evidence that a healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of impotence in diabetes. But no scientific work has previously shown whether following healthy eating patterns reduces the likelihood of developing impotence in healthy (non-diabetic) men.
New evidence on diet and erectile dysfunction
In a new study, researchers analyzed data on more than 21,000 men aged 40 to 75 who took part in a large study of the health of healthcare workers. Participants completed questionnaires about their diet every four years from 1998 to 2014.
The authors of the new study assessed men's adherence to healthy eating using a special scale. They compared this information with data on the erectile function of study participants.
Across all age groups, following a healthy diet was associated with a reduced risk of developing impotence.
Men under age 60 who had the least healthy diets had a 22% higher risk of impotence than those who followed the healthiest eating patterns. At the age of 60-70 years, this difference was 18%, over 75 years old — 7%.
Scientists believe that men who care about their erections need to choose a healthy diet. However, they note that the new data needs to be tested in randomized trials — they provide better evidence.
What is a healthy diet
In the new study, scientists focused on the Mediterranean diet, which is recommended for prevention heart diseases. It includes a large number of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish, and vegetable oil. It is low in red meat and fatty dairy products. A healthy eating pattern involves avoiding or limiting as much as possible the consumption of processed meat, sugary drinks, trans fats, and salt. Alcohol consumption can be moderate — from 0.5 to 2 servings per day (one serving is the equivalent of 10 grams of pure alcohol).