Could the health of our gut microbiome play a role in male sexual function, particularly erectile health? Recent studies suggest that this could be the case.
Background
Bacteria have gotten a pretty bad rap. We all harbor justifiably negative thoughts about such potentially deadly bacteria as E. coli, S. pneumoniae, C. diff., the Salmonella bacterium, and others.
Unfortunately, this germ phobia overlooks the importance of good bacteria that allow the human body to function at optimal levels. It’s estimated that the human body harbors trillions of microbes — most of them bacteria — that outnumber human cells by a factor of 10 to 1, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
These bacteria can be found almost anywhere on and in the body. Many make their home in our gastrointestinal tract where they collectively make up what is known as the gut microbiome. While bacteria are the dominant inhabitants of the gut microbiome, it also houses some fungi and viruses as well.
By definition, microbes are microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye. As previously noted, these tiny organisms, visible only under a microscope, are present in the trillions, yet because they are very small they account for only 1 to 3 percent of a human’s body weight. That means that a 200-pound man would have 2 to 6 pounds of microbes, the vast majority of which would probably be bacteria, according to the NIH.
It has long been recognized that the microbes in our gut microbiome play a critical role in various bodily processes, including digestion and immune responses. More recently, research has found that the health or optimal balance of the gut microbiome might have a significant bearing on erectile function.
This blog post will offer an overview of the gut microbiome’s overall significance with particular emphasis on its effect, if any, on male sexual function.
Balancing the Gut Microbiome
An article posted at NaturalFactors.com stresses the importance of an optimal balance between good and bad bacteria in our gut microbiome. The microbiome’s normal ratio of good to bad bacteria is 85 to 15. If the bad bacteria begin to grow in proportion to the good ones, we could fall victim to serious illness.
The article’s author, Leigh Matthews, notes that while the makeup of the gut microbiome varies from one individual to another, most of us have at least 700 species of bacteria residing in our gut at any given time.
As long as our gut microbiome’s ratio of 85:15 is maintained, we are said to be in a state of eubiosis. When the malevolent bacteria get the upper hand and increase significantly above their normal 15 percent makeup, this imbalance is known as dysbiosis.
And when dysbiosis occurs, bad things can happen. Perhaps most significantly, this imbalance can reduce the effectiveness of the body’s immune response, increasing our vulnerability to opportunistic infection. It can also result in inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and even a decline in cognitive function.
Findings of a Japanese Erectile Health Study
In an effort to gauge the role of the gut microbiome on the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED), Japanese scientists recruited 192 men who had participated in the 2015 Iwaki Health Promotion Project.
On the basis of testing with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), the men were divided into two groups — those with an IIEF score of 16 or lower and those with IIEF scores above 16. IIEF scores of 16 or less represent men with moderate to severe ED, while scores higher than 16 indicate mild ED to no ED. The median age of the men studied was 50.
Evaluating stool samples from men in both groups, researchers noted that men in the low IIEF group had significantly higher levels of the bacteria Alistipes and Clostridium XVIII than men in the high IIEF group.
In the conclusion to their study, which was published in the March 2020 issue of the International Urology and Nephrology, researchers called for additional research to establish “the causal relationship between the gut microbiome and ED.”
Findings of Iranian Study
In a study conducted less than two years earlier, Iranian scientists looked for evidence that microbiota might someday be used as a treatment for sexual dysfunction, especially erectile dysfunction. Their findings were published in the June 2018 issue of Medical Hypotheses.
The researchers noted that fecal microbiota transplantation is already being tested as a potential therapy for recurrent C. difficile infections (also called C. diff) and is already being used to treat irritable bowel syndrome and immune disorders. They said that transplanting microbiota from a person with normal sexual functioning to a person suffering from sexual dysfunction might be a therapeutic option in the future.
The Iranian scientists also suggested that selective administration of probiotics has the potential to modify the gut microbiome. They point to animal studies in which the Saccharomyces boulardii bacterium was administered to obese and diabetic mice, thus reducing their levels of inflammation. In yet another animal study, aging mice were treated with Lactobacillus reuteri, which improved testicle size and boosted blood levels of testosterone.
How to Improve Gut Health
If you’re wondering what you can do to optimize the health of your gut microbiome, MedicalNewsToday.com has some suggestions that could help.
How to Promote Gut Microbiome Health:
- Limit sugar intake
- Reduce stress
- Exercise regularly
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Try prebiotic foods like asparagus, bananas, chicory, garlic, onions, and whole grains
- Talk to your doctor about probiotic supplements
- Eat fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kombucha, kefir, and tempeh
- Take antibiotics only when medically advisable. Sadly, they help kill off beneficial bacteria in the gut
Could ED Drugs Help?
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