Weight loss improves erection in men with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus
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By David Liu Ph.D.
Saturday Aug 6, 2011 (foodconsumer.org) -- Weight loss induced by caloric restriction can boost sexual drive and performance of men with both obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to a new study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
The study shows that diabetic men with obesity who were given two diets specially designed for weight loss for eight weeks improved their "erectile function, sexual desire and urinary symptoms".
The two diets used in the study included a meal replacement-based low-cal diet with only 1,000 kcal per day and a low fat, high protein diet with carbohydrates and calories reduced by 600 kcal per day.
The study led by Joan Khoo of Changi General Hospital in Singapore and colleagues, authors of the study, also found at eight weeks of dietary interventions, the meal replacement diet and low-calorie-high protein diet, that subjects reduced their weight and waist circumference by 10 and 5 percent, respectively.
The dietary intervention using either diet improved plasma glucose, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or so called bad cholesterol, Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), endothelial function, and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) among others in obese men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The findings of the study may be applicable to obese men without type 2 diabetes mellitus. In fact, a study similar to the current one, but involving obese men without diabetes also found weight loss led to better sexual function at least in one third of obese men with erectile dysfunction.
The study led by Katherine Esposito MD of Policlinico Universitario in Naples, Italy and colleagues was actually a randomized controlled trial, meaning the study is more trustworthy.
The trial involved 110 men with obesity, meaning their bod mass index was over 30 kg/m2, with 55 men given special advice to reduce caloric intake and increase physical activity to achieve a weight loss by 10 percent and 55 men as controls only given general information on health food choices and physical exercise.
After two years, men in the intervention group experienced significant weight loss, that is, their BMI was down to 31.2 kg/m2 from 36.9 kg/m2 on average, while those in the control group decreased their BMI from 36.4 to 35.7 kg/m2 only.
C-reactive protein was also improved in the study group. High C-reactive protein was linked with inflammation, which is found more severe in men with obesity.
Men in the study group had better erection as the study showed that the average International Index of Erection Function increased from 13.9 to 17 while men in the control group maintained the same score. Seventeen men in the intervention group and three in the control group increased their IIEF score to 22 or higher.
The researchers further found the improvement of erection function measured by the IIEF-5 was independently associated with BMI, physical activity and c-reactive protein. This means there may be at least three mechanisms involved in the association between weight loss and erection function in men with obesity.
In any case, weight loss induced by caloric restriction regardless of what type of diet is used, helps improve sexual function or sex performance in men with obesity regardless of their type 2 diabetes mellitus status.
For men with or without obesity, certain foods do help their erection and maybe sexual performance as well. Studies suggest oily fish like salmon, garlic, vitamin C and arginine supplements or eating lots of peanuts can boost the sexual drive and performance in men.
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