Natural vitamins and supplements for erectile dysfunction (ED)

• Vitamins are important nutrients for healthy living as they help boost immunity; they can also help improve erectile dysfunction.
• Some of the best vitamin supplements for erectile dysfunction include vitamin D, vitamin B9, and vitamin B3.
• Natural home remedies and lifestyle changes like stress therapy, maintaining a healthy weight, and stress reduction can help improve erectile dysfunction.

Vitamins are essential for maintaining a healthy life. Unsurprisingly, they also help to improve erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to maintain or achieve an erection. This usually has psychological consequences and causes tension for people who experience it.

Erection is characterized by a firm, engorged and enlarged penis in response to sexual arousal, so lack of it is termed erectile dysfunction.

Men of reproductive age can have erectile dysfunction, but it is more prevalent in men 40 years and above. Some people become aware of this when they start noticing the early signs of erectile dysfunction.

The causes of ED can be physical, psychological, or due to underlying health conditions.

Medications are available to treat erectile dysfunction, but the question is, can vitamin supplements also treat ED?

Aging is one cause of erectile dysfunction. Even though aging is inevitable, it can be slowed down or toned down by eating healthy and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

If you have ED, medications are available to treat erectile dysfunction; however, most of the medications have varying side effects. Due to the side effects of those medications, researchers are constantly looking for natural ways to help treat erectile dysfunction.

Some studies suggest that supplements like vitamins may help with treating erectile dysfunction.

Some vitamins and supplements for erectile dysfunction include:

Vitamin D

One of the best vitamins for ED is vitamin D. The body naturally produces vitamin D from exposure to sunlight. It can also be obtained through foods and supplements.

One of the most significant functions of vitamin D is to maintain healthy bones by promoting intestinal calcium absorption.

Also, vitamin D plays a major role in immune function, as it has been associated with the development of some autoimmune disorders like diabetes, arthritis, etc.

In addition to the development of autoimmune disorders, vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with severe erectile dysfunction. About 49.5% of participants in a 2014 study who had ED also had a vitamin D deficiency. This indicates that boosting the body's vitamin D supply may play a role in improving ED.

You can always ensure you get enough vitamin D by eating foods that contain a substantial amount of the vitamin.

About 80% of vitamin D is obtained from the conversion of cholesterol in the skin to vitamin D when you are exposed to sunlight, while about 20% is obtained through dietary intake.

Foods that are major sources of vitamin D include egg yolks, beef liver, fatty fish (mackerel, salmon, tuna), fortified milk, cheese, fortified cereals, and fruit juices.

Vitamin B9

Vitamin B9 is of two types: folate, the natural form, is found in foods, while folic acid, the synthetic form, is added to food products.

Folate performs many functions in the body, such as the formation of DNA and RNA, protein metabolism (breakdown of protein), breakdown of homocysteine (an amino acid that causes harm in the body when present in high quantity), and producing more red blood cells at the times when there is a higher demand such as during pregnancy.

Also, vitamin B9 plays a vital role in improving erectile function. In research carried out to ascertain the role of vitamin B9 in erectile dysfunction, people with erectile dysfunction showed improvement after taking vitamin B9 for a while.

The deficiency of folic acid may contribute to the onset of erectile dysfunction.

Because folic acid helps break down homocysteine, the deficiency of folic acid will lead to hyperhomocysteinemia (excess homocysteine). Hyperhomocysteine contributes to erectile dysfunction as it causes dysfunction of the endothelium that lines the walls of blood vessels.

Some sources of folic acid include greens, avocados, beef liver, eggs, citrus fruits, beans, peas, legumes, etc.

Taking these foods rich in folate or folate supplements will help you if you have erectile dysfunction.

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is an important nutrient in the body. It is another important vitamin that can help with ED. Vitamin B3 must be consumed through foods because the body does not produce it.

Niacin is found in two chemical forms in the body: nicotinic acid and niacinamide. The two chemical forms can be obtained from foods and supplements.

The main function of niacin (Vitamin B3) is the synthesis of the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). These two coenzymes help in obtaining energy from food through some biological reactions.

Some studies suggest that niacin can improve erectile function in men suffering from moderate to severe erectile dysfunction.

Also, niacin helps improve health, preventing disease conditions that can further lead to erectile dysfunction.

The body cannot produce or store niacin, so it must be gotten through foods like turkey, chicken breast, beef liver, peanuts, brown rice, salmon, tuna, etc.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an important nutrient and antioxidant that helps form bones, skin, and blood vessels. Vitamin C functions include the production of collagen, L-carnitine, neurotransmitters, absorption of iron in the body, and wound healing.

Vitamin C also helps improve the immune system and, as an antioxidant, helps eliminate unwanted substances in the body.

Vitamin C is one of the vitamins that support the release of nitric oxide in the body. They do this by supporting the biochemical pathways that lead to the release of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide plays a vital role in male sexual function. Therefore, vitamin C is highly needed to improve male sexual function.

Vitamin C can be obtained from red and green peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, green peas, strawberries, oranges, orange juice, spinach, leafy vegetables, greens, etc.

Arginine

L-arginine is an amino acid that is produced in the body. It is a body-building protein. In addition to the body making L-arginine, you can always find it in protein-rich foods like fish, red meat, whole grains, soy, dairy products, and beans.

L-arginine can also be used as a supplement through oral or intravenous administration.

Arginine supplements help improve erectile dysfunction in mild to moderate conditions.

L-arginine acts as a vasodilator (opening blood vessels), so taking it may help improve cardiovascular diseases and erectile dysfunction.

Some natural remedies may help with your erectile dysfunction. However, it may take time for the natural remedies to work, and they often work best when combined with medication.

Some of the natural remedies include:

Anxiety and stress reduction

Anxiety and stress are psychological causes of erectile dysfunction. If you're always worried, especially about your sexual life, it could affect how you perform in bed.

Avoid situations that always make you feel emotionally stressed.

Sex therapy and counseling

Sometimes erectile dysfunction may not be a result of underlying health conditions or physical causes like insufficient blood flow to the penis. It could be due to psychological conditions like depression, anxiety, etc. In such cases, attending a counseling session might help.

Therapy sessions are often more effective when you attend with your partner because it will help them understand your condition more. In that case, they will be more supportive.

Reduce the intake of alcohol

Alcohol intake is one of the factors that have been hugely linked to sexual dysfunction. Alcohol consumption is a known cause of hyperhomocysteinemia.

Also, men with alcohol dependence syndrome are easily prone to sexual dysfunction.

Reducing excessive intake of alcohol is good for your sexual health and healthy living.

Smoking cessation

Smoking has been associated with many health conditions like lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Smoking affects blood vessels and prevents proper circulation to different body parts, including the penis.

The risk of erectile dysfunction is always high for men who smoke.

Also, smoking affects the availability of nitric oxide in the body, and nitric oxide plays an important role in erection.

If you smoke, you may want to consider quitting as it can affect your erection, sexual health, and overall health.

Maintain a healthy weight

Obesity is one of the health conditions that can contribute to erectile dysfunction. Maintaining a healthy weight is good for your overall health.

If your erectile dysfunction is due to obesity, you should exercise and change your diet to one rich in vegetables and low in junk.

Losing some weight may eventually improve your erectile dysfunction.

Exercise

Exercise is good for our general health. Exercise also helps to improve some health conditions like cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

You can always run, take a brisk walk, visit the gym, skip, or swim. Rather than living a sedentary lifestyle, engage in any exercise that will help you keep fit.

Balanced Diet

A balanced diet will help you maintain your general body function and keep you away from diseases that can lead to erectile dysfunction.

There are foods that can help with erection. Taking such foods may help improve your condition.

Always take fruits and legumes—nuts, fish, and vegetables. Also, feel free to consult your dietician to give you a meal plan according to your health needs.

There are medications available for erectile dysfunction. However, some may be associated with serious side effects, particularly in people with conditions like heart disease.

If you are already taking a prescribed medication for ED, before taking any vitamin or supplement, ask your doctor if it is okay to. Taking the recommended vitamins and other natural remedies may help improve erectile dysfunction depending on the underlying cause.

Also, vitamins will help maintain your overall health and protect you from many disease conditions.