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Caffeine consumption reduces risk of erectile dysfunction

Men who consumed between 85 mg and 303 mg of caffeine per day were less likely to experience erectile dysfunction, compared with men who consumed less than 7 milligrams per day, according to data recently published in PLOS ONE.

“In general we found a reduced likelihood to report [erectile dysfunction] among men with caffeine intake, especially with [two or three] daily cups of coffee…Interestingly, we found differences in the inverse associations of caffeine intake and caffeinated beverages among overweight/obese, nondiabetic and hypertensive men,” David S. Lopez, PhD, MPH, division of epidemiology, human genetics and environmental sciences, University of Texas, Houston, and colleagues wrote.

To evaluate the association between caffeine intake and erectile dysfunction, researchers analyzed data from the 2001 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The mean age of the participants (n = 3,724) was 49 years. Among them, 40.9% were overweight, 30.7% were obese, 51% had hypertension and 12.4% had diabetes.

After adjusting for variables, researchers found that men who consumed between 85 mg and 170 mg per day and between 171 mg and 303 mg per day had reduced odds of reporting erectile dysfunction, compared with men who consumed between 0 mg and 7 mg per day.

Among men who were overweight, obese had hypertension, those who consumed between 8 mg and 700 mg of caffeine per day were less likely to report having erectile dysfunction, compared with men who consumed less than 8mg of caffeine per day (P ≤ .05).

The researchers found no association between caffeine and erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes. – by Casey Hower

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.