Vitamin D and erectile dysfunction.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated to play an important role in pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED) and vitamin D deficiency is deemed to promote endothelial dysfunctions.

AIM:

To evaluate the status of serum vitamin D in a group of patients with ED.

METHODS:

Diagnosis and severity of ED was based on the IIEF-5 and its aetiology was classified as arteriogenic (A-ED), borderline (BL-ED), and non-arteriogenic (NA-ED) with penile-echo-color-Doppler in basal condition and after intracaversous injection of prostaglandin E1. Serum vitamin D and intact PTH concentrations were measured.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Vitamin D levels of men with A-ED were compared with those of male with BL-ED and NA-ED.

RESULTS:

Fifty patients were classified as A-ED, 28 as ED-BL and 65 as NA-ED, for a total of 143 cases. Mean vitamin D level was 21.3 ng/mL; vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was present in 45.9% and only 20.2% had optimal vitamin D levels. Patients with severe/complete-ED had vitamin D level significantly lower (P = 0.02) than those with mild-ED. Vitamin level was negatively correlated with PTH and the correlation was more marked in subjects with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency in A-ED was significantly lower (P = 0.01) than in NA-ED patients. Penile-echo-color-Doppler revealed that A-ED (PSV ≤ 25 cm/second) was more frequent in those with vitamin D deficiency as compared with those with vitamin >20 ng/dL (45% vs. 24%; P < 0.05) and in the same population median PSV values were lower (26 vs. 38; P < 0.001) in vitamin D subjects.

CONCLUSION:

Our study shows that a significant proportion of ED patients have a vitamin D deficiency and that this condition is more frequent in patients with the arteriogenic etiology. Low levels of vitamin D might increase the ED risk by promoting endothelial dysfunction. Men with ED should be analyzed for vitamin D levels and particularly to A-ED patients with a low level a vitamin D supplementation is suggested.

• Authors: Alessandra Barassi, Raffaele Pezzilli, Giovanni M Colpi, Massimiliano M Corsi Romanelli, Gian Vico Melzi d'Eril
• Journal: The journal of sexual medicine (J Sex Med) Vol. 11 Issue 11 Pg. 2792-800 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1743-6109 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 25092061 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Chemical References

• Vitamin D

Topics

• Adult
• Erectile Dysfunction (blood, etiology, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Penis (physiopathology)
• Vitamin D (blood)
• Vitamin D Deficiency (blood, complications)