Dr. Aditya Shah
Expert In Clinical Pharmacology And Drug SafetyView moreSexual wellness constitutes a key portion when we talk of overall wellbeing. The matter is that he cannot express himself to be healthy with poor sexual health. Sexual health is the culmination of hormonal balance, muscular flexibility, mental health and all other aspects. Any one component if missed, it affects the sexual wellbeing of men.
In such circumstances men have to take medication such as Tadalafil, Sildenafil or Cialis (brand of tadalafil). These medications encourage vitality, vigor and bring back enthusiasm in sexual life of men.
Here, we shall discuss how nutrition and especially vitamins play a vital role in maintain sexual wellness or treating certain conditions like Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation or Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
Foundation Of Male Sexual Health: Blood Flow And Hormones
Primarily sexual health of men is dependent on endocrine system, responsible for hormone production such as male hormone, testosterone, and vascular system to ensure uninterrupted blood circulation. A fluctuating blood circulation, especially hypertension negatively impacts sexual performance.
Role Of Nitric Oxide
When a man is stimulated sexually, nitric oxide is produced which smoothens the muscle in penis and surrounded regions. This lets free flow of blood, leading to strong erection. In case of ED, this is not possible.
Thus, medicines like sildenafil and tadalafil comes to use. However, either through drugs or by other means, your body needs to produce adequate amount of this nitric oxide for better sexual performance.
Impact Of Cardiovascular Health
Circumstances impacting heart health also gradually impacts sexual health. For example, PAH or Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension is a situation where blood vessels in lungs become narrow, leading to poor blood supply in body. This leads to symptoms like fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath etc.
In such a situation, even when man experiences sexual stimulation, due to narrowing of blood vessels adequate blood does not enter penis. This leads to poor erection and unsatisfied copulation.
Essential Vitamins For Men’s Sexual Wellness
To overcome the condition, along with the drugs, vitamins assists men in gaining back their sexual stamina. The important vitamins that acts in the course are:
Vitamin D:
| Aspect | Details | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | Sunlight, fish, egg yolk | Helps the body produce Vitamin D naturally |
| Benefits | Strong bones, immune support | Improves overall body health |
| Deficiency Effects | Weak bones, fatigue, muscle pain | Can lead to bone disorders |
Vitamin D also referred as “The Sunshine Hormone” as sun is the primary source of vitamin D. And patients lacking vitamin D are asked to expose their body to direct sunlight in the morning usually before 9 am. Vitamin D is essential for bone health, but besides this, men with low levels of vitamin D also have low levels of testosterone production.
How it works: Vitamin D is found to stimulate nitric oxide production. And also stabilizes the “cytoarchitecture” and maintains structure of penis.
Testosterone Link: Proven in many studies that low levels of vitamin correspond to low levels of testosterone which means less drive for sex.
Sources: One should take foods rich in fish, egg yolks, fatty fish for omega C and most importantly exposure to sunlight.
Vitamin B3:
| Aspect | Details | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | Meat, fish, peanuts, whole grains | Provides natural Vitamin B3 to the body |
| Benefits | Supports metabolism, skin health, nervous system | Helps convert food into energy |
| Deficiency Effects | Fatigue, skin rash, digestive issues | Severe deficiency may cause Pellagra |
Vitamin B3, also referred as Niacin, is the primary fuel for cardiovascular health. For men with obesity and high levels of cholesterol, blood circulation is affected, they must intake niacin.
Science behind: In a medical observation of 160 men, who consumed niacin consecutively for 12 weeks, saw significant improvement in smooth blood flow and observed better erection.
Sources: Mostly nonveg dishes like turkey, chicken breast. For vegetarians one should take peanuts and brown rice.
Vitamin B9 and B12:
| Vitamin | Sources | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | Leafy greens, beans, citrus fruits | Supports cell growth and DNA formation |
| Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) | Meat, fish, dairy products | Helps in red blood cell formation and nerve function |
| Deficiency Effects | Poor diet, absorption issues | Can cause anemia, fatigue, and nerve problems |
Vitamin B9 and B12 together complement each other to ensure homocysteine levels get stabilized. High levels of homocysteine lead to accumulation of plaque in arteries. This can reduce blood flow in arteries, causing poor erection.
Folate Benefits: Accumulation of Folic acid increase symptoms of erectile dysfunction restricting blood circulation in penis region.
B12 and Fertility: Vitamin B12 is a key ingredient for semen production and their mobility. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 results in lack of urge for sex, fatigue, weakness and exhaustion.
Vitamin C:
| Aspect | Details | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | Citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers | Provides natural Vitamin C |
| Benefits | Boosts immunity, supports skin health | Helps in collagen production |
| Deficiency Effects | Weak immunity, bleeding gums, fatigue | Severe deficiency may cause scurvy |
Vitamin C is one of the major antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants counter the harmful free radicals that are released as by product of certain chemical reactions within the body.
Here, as well, Vitamin C ensures protection of nitric oxide from quick breaking down. Though it directly does not affect ED or sexual disorders of men, but it ensures production of nitric oxide is continued.
This ensures muscles in penis are smoothened for long durations, which then leads to prolonged erection. So, as you can see it’s a part of a big chain reaction.
Sources: All your citrus fruits like lime, lemon, orange, gooseberry have high levels of vitamin C.
Essential Minerals And Amino Acids
Zinc
Also known as the masculinity mineral, is responsible for betterment of male sexual organs. Good levels of zinc ensure adequate production of testosterone.
- Zinc ensures high sperm count in men and ensures testosterone is sustained with ageing.
- You can have red meat, oysters, lentils and pumpkin seeds as sources of zinc.
L-Arginine
It is an amino acid that is directly converted by the body into nitric oxide.
- L-Arginine solely may not be directly solving ED or sexual health disorders, but in combination with Tadalafil and Pycnogenol, it has shown to be highly effective.
FAQs
Q. Can Vitamin D Really Help With My Erections?
Several medical research studies and reports have suggested that Vitamin D is responsible for production of testosterone. Low levels of Vitamin D mean low levels of testosterone and most likely to have sexual disorders.
Q. Is L-Arginine As Effective As Cialis?
L-Arginine is effective in combination with Tadalafil, and it plays the role of production of nitric oxide. Whereas drugs like Cialis directly lead to strong and long duration erection.
Q. Why Is Zinc So Important For Men?
Zinc is one of the essential minerals, men require for super flow of male hormone, testosterone production and ensures high sperm count. Deficiency of zinc leads to low sexual drive.
Q. Can I Take Vitamins While Using Sildenafil?
Vitamins are mostly on the safer side to be consumed with sildenafil. But it is better to tell your doctor at the time of checkup about your existing medications and allergies.
Q. How Long Does It Take For Vitamins To Show Results?
Vitamins don’t have immediate effect, for significant improvement you need to take it consistently. After 7 to 10 weeks of disciplined consumption, one can observe positive results.
