You must have heard about the importance of vitamin D overall, but do you know it can help with your sexual life, too? Yes, Vitamin D and ED are connected, How? Vitamin D is a nutrient that can improve your sexual functioning and also help you get an erection. But even after its several benefits, vitamin D deficiency is very common. Statistics show that appx. 42% of the US population suffers from its deficiency.
So, if you want to improve your erectile functioning, this article is for you. This article will cover all the information about vitamin D and ED. How vitamin D can be connected with erectile dysfunction. You will learn about the benefits of vitamin D and how to treat ED due to vitamin D deficiency.
Does Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble secosteroid responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of Ca, Mg, and phosphate. Difficult to understand, isn’t it? But it’s not that complicated.
Vitamin D is simply a nutrient your body generates by itself when in contact with sunlight. It helps to keep your body healthy and plays a crucial role in bone health. But have you wondered that the deficiency of this nutrient can cause big sexual problems like erectile dysfunction?
Studies claim a direct connection between vitamin D and ED. Vitamin D for erectile dysfunction is important. Some researchers back that ED also acts as an early sign of cardiovascular diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and inflammation. When your body lacks the vitamin, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases, resulting in sexual dysfunction.
4 Benefits of Vitamin D for Men
1) Muscle Development
Vitamin D is an effective nutrient that helps with muscle recovery. It is beneficial for bone health and muscle functioning. When you expose your body to the Sun, the sunlight produces vitamin D by activating the receptor in muscles. It influences growth and strength.
Several studies suggest that the intake of vitamin D supplements can boost muscle strength and improve the performance capacity of muscles. It is also beneficial for men, who get involved in intense exercises, as vitamin D supplementation decreases muscle cell damage.
2) Testosterone Levels
Another big benefit of consuming vitamin D supplements is that they bring significant elevation in testosterone levels. These are the sex hormones that play a vital role in getting an erection. They also have a huge impact on your mood.
Lower testosterone levels can cause various problems in your daily life. It also affects your fertility and minimizes overall energy.
Various studies back that the decrease in the vitamin D levels can reduce the testosterone production. In a study in 2011, the researchers took overweight men and asked them to take the supplements for a year. The result showed a vital increase in testosterone levels.
3) Mental Health
Having good mental health is a boon in today’s time. It is usual to experience problems that trigger anxiety and stress in our daily lives. Some scientists believe that vitamin D can help with improving mental health issues like depression, while others don’t.
The lack of research in the field makes it difficult to understand the link. However various studies claim to get improved mental health by the intake of vitamin D supplements.
4) Weight Loss
Being overweight is a problem that men suffer with growing age. Obesity not only attracts health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, but it also can ruin your sex life. It increases the chances of sexual dysfunction like ED, which makes it difficult to get an erection during intercourse.
Many studies show that vitamin D deficiency is found in obese men. They show high body mass index and body fat percentage with low levels of vitamin D.
On the other way around, studies also show that obesity increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. Intake of the supplements with regular exercise reduces inflammation and improves cholesterol levels.
Is Vitamin D Good for Erectile Dysfunction?
After all these benefits, the question arises – does vitamin D help with erectile dysfunction? Well, the improved levels of vitamin D showed an enhancement in erectile dysfunction. Consistent intake of vitamin improves blood flow and enhance sexual functioning.
In a study of 114 men, higher vitamin D levels were associated with improved sexual functioning. When your vitamin D level elevates, nitric oxide production increases. If you don’t know about nitric oxide and its importance in your sex life, read our blog “The Role of Nitric Oxide Supplements on Your Erectile Health”
Another recent study shows the impact of vitamin D on erectile function recovery after nerve injury in rats. They used vitamin D3 to improve sexual functioning and recover penile tissues after a nerve injury.
If you have erectile dysfunction, but are unaware of its cause, consult a doctor to make sure about the root cause.
How Much Vitamin D to Take for Erectile Dysfunction?
According to the National Institute of Health, a person should take below amount of vitamin D.
Age | Male | Female |
0-12 months | 10 mcg (400 IU) | 10 mcg (400 IU) |
1-13 years | 15 mcg (600IU) | 15 mcg (600IU) |
14-18 years | 15 mcg (600 IU) | 15 mcg (600 IU) |
19-50 years | 15 mcg (600 IU) | 15 mcg (600 IU) |
51-70 years | 15 mcg (600 IU) | 15 mcg (600 IU) |
>70 years | 20 mcg (800 IU) | 20 mcg (800 IU) |
4 Ways to Treat ED due to Vitamin D Deficiency
1) Dietary Changes
One of the best ways to enhance the vitamin D levels in your body is by eating foods rich in nutrients. A diet is as important for ED as any other medicine. It improves the blood flow and reduces the chances of various health conditions.
Intake of foods rich in vitamin D increases its level and improves erectile functioning. Certain foods are naturally rich in vitamin D3, which is good for erectile dysfunction. The best sources you can find are flesh of fatty fish and fish liver oils. Egg yolks, cheese, and beef liver also have a smaller amount of vitamin D.
Foods that increase your vitamin D levels are:
- Cod liver oil
- Salmon
- Swordfish
- Tuna fish
- Orange juice fortified with vitamin D
- Dairy and plant milks fortified with vitamin D
- Sardines
- Beef liver
- Egg yolk
- Fortified cereals
With the intake of these foods, you can see positive changes in your body.
2) Exercising Daily
Many people are unaware that exercise can improve your vitamin D levels. Researchers found that three or more hours a week of vigorous exercise reduces the chances of heart attack by 22%. They also believe that exercise is associated with higher levels of vitamin D and good cholesterol.
Exercises that can help improve the levels are:
- Weight training
- Yoga
- Running
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Jogging
- Playing Basketball or soccer
Exercise also exposes your body to the sunlight, which naturally improves the vitamin levels. However, you can also practice kegel exercises designed for treating ED. Read our guide to kegel exercises and use the exercise to bring pleasure to your sex life.
3) Quit Smoking
Smoking is dangerous in various health aspects. Research claims that smoking is also linked with decreased vitamin D levels in the body. When you smoke a cigarette, the production of the active form of vitamin D decreases.
A study took 600 men over 20 years to explore the impact of vitamin D deficiency and smoking on lung infection. It concluded that vitamin D deficiency is not directly linked but can cause lung infection when combined with smoking.
Smoking regularly also increases the chances of ED in men. Tobacco damages the blood vessels, resulting in insufficient blood flow in the penis. To avoid this, quit smoking.
4) Take Vitamin Supplements
Taking vitamin supplements is a great way to improve the vitamin D levels in your body. Various vitamins affect your body in different ways. The intake of supplements provides the missing nutrients and fills the gap.
Vitamin supplements that you can take to improve your sexual health are:
- Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
- Vitamin C
- L-arginine
These vitamin D supplements for erectile dysfunction improve blood flow. However, the FDA doesn’t approve taking home remedies, but if you have no allergy and want to try something new, these supplements can help you.
Conclusion
Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for your body. It is also beneficial for your erectile health which can’t be ignored. Vitamin D helps with cardiovascular health and inflammation. It also improves nitric oxide production. To improve your erectile health, make sure to take sufficient sunlight and participate in outdoor activities like basketball. You can also take various supplements and change dietary sources.
However, if you are experiencing ED and want to get rid of it, you can also opt for ED medicines. These medicines focus on improving the blood circulation in your penis and help to get or maintain an erection for a longer duration. The quality of erection enhances and it becomes easy during sex. You can click here to get the best medicines.
