Observations placeholder

J Sex Med. 2014 Aug 5. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12661. [Epub ahead of print]  Vitamin D and Erectile Dysfunction.  Barassi A1, Pezzilli R, Colpi GM, Corsi Romanelli MM, Melzi d'Eril GV.  1Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

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. Barassi A, Pezzilli R, Colpi GM, Corsi Romanelli MM, and Melzi d'Eril GV. Vitamin D and erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med **;**:**-**.

© 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

KEYWORDS: Endothelial Dysfunctions; Erectile Dysfunction; Vitamin D, cod liver oil

PMID:25092061