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 ( 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 P 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. Barassi A, Pezzilli R, Colpi GM, Corsi Romanelli MM, and Melzi d'Eril GV. Vitamin D and erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med 2014;11:2792–2800.