October 25, 2024, 11:26 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Erectile dysfunction, also referred to as impotence, often occurs in men as they age. There are many reasons for this, such as diet, which can also play a role, as a new study shows. FITBOOK editor Janine Riedle discusses the research findings.
As statistics from 2020 show, erectile dysfunction can occur at any age. Around seven percent of 18 to 25-year-olds in Germany are affected. The figures also increase with age: Erectile dysfunction occurs in 21 percent of 56- to 65-year-olds and 34 percent of 66- to 75-year-olds1 The number of unreported cases is likely to be even higher if you consider that erectile dysfunction is still considered a taboo subject and is therefore often not addressed at the doctor. It is, therefore, all the more important to know what exactly causes erectile dysfunction and how it can be prevented. Researchers from China have now addressed this by identifying a popular eating habit as a possible risk factor for erectile dysfunction: spicy food.
Overview
Questionnaires to determine erectile dysfunction and eating habits
The researchers initially identified a total of 674 men who came to the Xiangya clinics from June 2017 to June 2023 and had been suffering from erectile dysfunction for at least six months.2 The control group consisted of individuals who visited the hospital for other sexual dysfunctions or for a physical examination. After excluding patients who declined to participate, failed to complete the questionnaires, or had mental illnesses, the study ultimately included 373 patients.
Classification of the severity of erectile dysfunction
Before treatment, the study participants were asked to complete several questionnaires. In addition to the general set of questions, which collected demographic data, the so-called SIEDY questionnaire (Structured Interview on Erectile Dysfunction) was used. This assesses the influence of organic, relational, and psychopathological factors on erectile dysfunction. With the help of a further questionnaire, the “International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5)”, the scientists were then able to assess the degree of the disorder.
Survey of eating behavior
In order to establish the connection between eating habits, such as spicy food, the researchers also had the participants fill out questionnaires about their eating and lifestyle habits. These questionnaires inquired about the consumption of meat, fruits, vegetables, and fish, among other dietary habits. The patients also provided information on their seasoning habits.
Physical examination
Additionally, the participants underwent a series of examinations to measure the following health indicators:
- Body weight and measurements
- Blood pressure
- Pulse and respiratory rate
- Daily exercise behavior
- BMI
- Prevalence of diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia
In addition, laboratory tests were used to determine liver function, vitamin D levels, and the presence of sex hormone-binding protein (SHBG).
Spicy food can promote erectile dysfunction
Of the 373 study participants, 67.6 percent were affected by erectile dysfunction. This was often accompanied by an increase in BMI and blood sugar levels and may indicate vascular damage. A reduction in testosterone levels was also observed in the patients.
The relationship between erectile dysfunction and smoking behavior
The BMI of the participants who had erectile dysfunction and smoked was almost 24, and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) value was 1.19 millimoles per liter. Both values can be indicators of vascular damage. It was also found that the severity of erectile dysfunction increased with the number of cigarettes per day.
Connection between erectile dysfunction and eating habits
In terms of diet, a trend emerged among those affected. Compared to the control group, they consumed significantly more pork and spicy foods. It was also observed that people with erectile dysfunction who did not smoke and consumed more spicy food had a higher BMI. According to the scientists, this could cause organic diseases. In addition, testosterone levels decreased with the frequency of spicy food consumption. There was a further correlation in patients with erectile dysfunction between the consumption of spicy food and higher values on the SIEDY-2 scale.
In summary, participants who ate spicy food more than three times a week developed a 158.6 percent higher risk of erectile dysfunction.
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Classification of the study
The study suggests that frequent consumption of spicy food may elevate the risk of erectile dysfunction. The retrospective analysis only provides the insight that the sexual disorder and the eating behavior in question occur together. However, it does not clarify the causalities behind this observation. This means that further research is needed to confirm the hypothesis that diet triggers erectile dysfunction.
Given that the participants provided subjective responses to the questionnaires, it cannot be guaranteed that the information accurately reflects reality. For example, the information on eating behavior can vary greatly. Furthermore, the study size is very small, with only 373 test subjects. Additionally, recruiting patients solely from Chinese clinics introduces a limitation due to geographical constraints.