Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition wherein an individual cannot produce or maintain an erection hard or long enough to enjoy pleasurable and satisfying sex.
ED can in fact cause serious psychological and emotional distress. Fortunately, it’s the most common sexual dysfunction—with over 30 million men experiencing ED in the United States alone.
And while ED can be caused or exacerbated by a variety of factors, there are just as many ways and approaches you can try to treat it – including taking vitamins and supplements.
Let’s take a look at the tried-and-tested vitamins and supplements for ED in this article.
Vitamin D
A 2016 study showed that vitamin D-deficient men were 32% more likely to run into erectile difficulties than men who got adequate amounts of it. Research conducted in 2020 showed that there were more vitamin D receptors in the testicles compared to other regions – making it highly likely that vitamin D plays a key role in the male reproductive system.
Vitamin D deficiency is quite common, with over a third of the American population experiencing it. While more research is needed to definitively state that vitamin D helps restore erectile function, it might be a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about taking a supplement.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin D is between 600 IU (15 mcg) and 800 IU (20 mcg) based on your age. If you don’t get enough vitamin D from your diet, taking a supplement might be a better solution.
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is universally known as a key nutrient. But it isn’t only because it helps bolster your immune system–it can also help your erectile function. Antioxidants like vitamin C help promote the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the body and help inhibit its breakdown, which works quite similar to how ED drugs belonging to the PDE5 inhibitor class of ED drugs like sildenafil (Viagra) do. Nitric oxide helps open up blood vessels to improve blood flow in the penis to cause erections.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should be taking megadoses of vitamin C in the hope of helping get your erections going–there is no research that supports such a claim yet. But if you’re not getting adequate amounts of vitamin C from your diet, such as citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables, taking a vitamin C supplement probably wouldn’t hurt.
Drinking a daily glass of orange juice will give you twice the daily vitamin C you need. However, do remember that your body fails to absorb vitamin C past a certain point, meaning you’ll be expelling the excess from your body through urination.
Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you need to increase your vitamin C intake.
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, can be found in a variety of dietary sources such as red meat, chicken, fruit, and vegetables. It’s more than likely that you’re getting what your body needs. Vitamin B3 may be used to reduce high cholesterol, which may exacerbate erectile dysfunction.
Here’s the thing: the research actually supports the claim. According to a 2011 study, people with moderate to severe ED AND high cholesterol showed tangible improvements in their symptoms after supplementing with niacin.
But then again, that doesn’t mean you should go to your friendly neighborhood pharmacy and down a bunch of vitamin B3. Instead, you should talk to your doctor to determine whether your cholesterol levels are all in order. If they aren’t, don’t expect to get a niacin prescription—you’ll more likely get a specific drug for your high cholesterol.
That won’t stop you from getting vitamin B3 from eating a balanced diet, though. Avocado, peanuts, and poultry like turkey are great and tasty sources of niacin.
Vitamin B9 (folic acid)
Here’s another B vitamin to add to your stack for better erections: vitamin B9, also known as folic acid, plays a vital role in blood cell production and sperm production, among other bodily processes. Moreover, a 2014 study demonstrated a correlation between ED and folate deficiency.`
Here’s where taking a vitamin B complex supplement comes in handy: they can help boost your vitamin B9 levels. You can also eat more folate-rich foods like spinach, milk, and citrus juices.
What herbal supplements can I take for erectile dysfunction?
Other individuals opt to take herbal supplements to treat their erectile dysfunction. It must be noted that most herbal supplements lack adequate research to substantiate their claims, but we’ve put together a list of herbal supplements that DO have some evidence for their beneficial effects on ED.
- Horny goat weed. Horny goat weed is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine to help boost sex drive and energy. Anecdotal evidence and tests conducted on animals indicate that it might help ED and improve erections due to its icariin content – a substance that works similarly as PDE5 inhibitors do. However, horny goat weed may not work as well, if at all, on humans as they appear to do so on animal subjects.
- Yohimbe. The bark of the yohimbe tree is a common ingredient in supplements marketed for “male enhancement” and aphrodisiacs. A 2015 review showed that yohimbine, its active ingredient, was better than placebo for ED treatment. However, studies haven’t made a direct comparison to yohimbine and PDE5 inhibitor drugs like sildenafil, making its effectiveness undetermined.
- Korean (red) ginseng. Red ginseng has been highly-touted as an ED treatment for many years. A meta-analysis published in 2018 showed that red ginseng significantly improved erectile function in men as well as being a potentially effective herbal treatment for erectile issues. However, the same meta-analysis mentioned that further studies need to be conducted before red ginseng can be definitively recommended as an ED treatment.
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands located just above the kidneys. It helps boost hormonal production, particularly testosterone, which may help boost erectile function and libido. However, other studies indicated that it doesn’t help either measure.
- Amino acids like citrulline and arginine. These amino acids help boost blood flow, like sildenafil and other PDE5 inhibitor drugs. However, whether or not these supplements are solutions for erectile dysfunction is yet unclear and the subject of debate. Studies show that they may break down too soon before your body gets a chance to use them, and deficiency in arginine, for instance, doesn’t typically cause erectile dysfunction. If you wish to try how they work for you in a risk-free way, you may want to eat more watermelon—a known source of citrulline.
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Things to keep in mind before taking vitamins/herbal supplements for ED
There are a few things you’ll need to consider before taking vitamins or herbal supplements to treat ED. Vitamins and herbal supplements aren’t regulated nor approved by the FDA, meaning you can’t be 100% certain of their quality or potency. Neither do they have solid evidence about how effective they are as ED treatments.
Lastly, taking certain vitamins and herbal supplements may interfere with prescription medications you currently take, or exacerbate particular underlying medical conditions you might have. Before going on a regimen of vitamins and supplements, talk to your healthcare provider.
What other ED treatments can I take?
PDE5 inhibitor oral drugs specifically developed for ED have a sterling record of effectiveness and safety. These include sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra).
On the other hand, if low testosterone is causing your erectile difficulties, you might want to consider taking testosterone replacement therapy which raises your testosterone through injections, topical gels, or patches.
Non-medical options exist just as well. For instance, men with ED have reported success with using devices that draw blood and retain blood within the penis to cause erections, such as cock rings, penis pumps, or attachable penis extensions to help restore sexual function.
Moreover, since erectile dysfunction is ultimately a problem with blood circulation, taking simple steps like getting regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption may be all you need to improve your ED symptoms.
That said, if you’re experiencing symptoms of ED, consult your healthcare provider to help determine the right approach or solution to treating it—and address any exacerbating health problems before they become a big issue.
