Some vitamins and minerals may lessen erectile dysfunction by helping to increase blood flow to the penis. While these natural remedies may not completely eliminate erectile dysfunction, the can improve erectile responses in men who do not typically benefit from Viagra or other drugs. If you have erectile dysfunction that is not treatable with a prescription medication, you may want to discuss the use of these drugs in combination with vitamins and other nutrients.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C can help to reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood. By taking vitamin C, you may increase some of the blood flow to you extremities and help restore blood flow to the penis. UrologyChannel.com, part of Remedy Health Media, recommends taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C 3 times each day with meals to help treat erectile dysfunction. "U.S. News and World Report" also explains that vitamin C may help lessen erectile dysfunction.
Vitamin E
One potential cause of erectile dysfunction is the oxidation and blockage of vessels that supply the penis and genital area in men. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that can prevent oxidative damage to the blood vessel of the genital region. A 2004 study published in the "Journal of Andrology" explains that vitamin E supplementation may help to restore erectile function in men with oxidative damage to their genital microvasculature. This effect is more apparent in men who have oxidative vascular damage as a result of diabetes. While vitamin E alone may have some benefits for erectile function, MayoClinic.com explains that the effects of vitamin E are more apparent when an erectile dysfunction medication such as Viagra is used in combination with vitamin E.
L-Carnitine
Carnitine is a nutrient that your body uses to help convert fat into energy. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that carnitine help to reduce oxidative stress in the body and can potentially treat a number of vascular conditions, including erectile dysfunction. While carnatine supplements are readily available in health food stores, they should only be used under the supervision of a physician. This is especially important if you are already taking medications for heart disease or erectile dysfunction. A clinical study in the journal "Current Medical Research and Opinion" found that carnatine supplementation significantly improved erection responses in men with diabetes who do not typically benefit from Viagra treatment alone.
References
- Urology Channel: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) & Naturopathic Treatment
- "U.S. News and World Report": Erectile Dysfunction
- "Journal of Andrology": Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Therapy: Their Impact in Diabetes-Associated Erectile Dysfunction
- MayoClinic.com: Erectile Dysfunction
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Carnitine
- "Current Medical Research and Opinion": Preliminary observations on the use of propionyl-L-carnitine in combination with sildenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction and diabetes
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