According to a study, the Mediterranean diet with little red meat can improve erectile dysfunction in men

Following a new study, eating a Mediterranean diet low in red meat can help improve erectile dysfunction in men suffering from this disease.

This is because men with high blood pressure are twice as likely to suffer from this disease than those with normal blood pressure levels.

To find out if treating blood pressure through a diet change also helped treat erectile dysfunction, experts at the University of Athens in Greece put 250 middle-aged men on a Mediterranean diet and monitored their Health.

The researchers found that men who followed the Mediterranean diet more closely had better blood flow, higher testosterone levels and better erectile performance.

As part of the study, the Greek team explored the benefits of eating different levels of a Mediterranean diet on erectile dysfunction, as well as heart disease and blood pressure levels.

Previous research has shown that exercise levels could improve survival in men with high blood pressure and that eating a Mediterranean diet could lower blood pressure and prevent heart attacks in men at risk.

This particular diet emphasizes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil, modest dairy consumption, and limiting red meat.

The researchers examined whether eating habits were related to fitness, testosterone levels, blood flow, arterial stiffness, and erectile performance.

The study included 250 men, with a mean age of 56 years, all with high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction.

Consumption of Mediterranean diet was assessed using questionnaires, and volunteers reported for themselves their attention following the diet.

Participants received a score of zero to 55, with higher values ​​indicating greater adherence to the diet.

Exercise capacity was assessed with a tape test and testosterone was measured in blood samples taken before 9:00 a.m. each day.

To determine the health of her heart, volunteers were given an echo cardiogram.

Coronary flow was assessed, which indicated the ability to increase blood flow when needed.

Values ​​of two or more are considered normal and point to better vascular function, the team said.

The researchers examined arterial stiffness around the heart using two measures: rate of increase and central pulse pressure.

Higher values ​​indicate stiffer arteries, which are associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiac events in men with erectile dysfunction, they explained.

The severity of erectile dysfunction was assessed using the Men’s Sexual Health Inventory (SHIM).

Five questions about erectile capacity are used to assign a score from zero to 25, with higher values ​​that correlate with better erectile performance.

The researchers found that men with a higher Mediterranean diet score (greater than 29) also had a higher coronary flow and testosterone reserve, better erectile performance (SHIM score greater than 14), and lower arterial stiffness.

When analyzing the relationships by fitness, the researchers found that patients with higher exercise capacity had a higher coronary flow reserve, testosterone, Mediterranean diet score (greater than 25), and SHIM score (greater than 25). 12) and lower arterial stiffness.

The author of the study, Dr. Athanasios Angelis, of the University of Athens, Greece, said: “In our study, consuming a Mediterranean diet was related to better exercise capacity, healthier arteries and blood flow, higher testosterone levels and better erectile performance.

“While we did not examine the mechanisms, it seems likely that this dietary pattern may improve fitness and erectile performance by improving blood vessel function and limiting the drop in testosterone that occurs in middle age.”

He concluded: “The results suggest that the Mediterranean diet could play a role in maintaining various parameters of vascular health and quality of life and in middle-aged men with hypertension and erectile dysfunction.”

The conclusions were presented at the ESC 2021 Congress.