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Highlights
- While stereotyped as an older man’s problem, younger men can also experience ED.
- While ED in younger men can have a range of causes, vitamin D deficiency is a possible cause that’s getting more attention.
- It’s theorized that because vitamin D is an important nutrient for the endothelial cells, which line blood vessels and control the exchange between tissue and blood, that a deficiency can aggravate ED or even cause it.
- Most people get enough vitamin D through a healthy diet and reasonable exposure to sunlight.
Michael DiLeo, MD, has over 30 years of experience in clinical and academic medicine. Through medical school, residency, and private practice, he has functioned as both a specialist and a primary care practitioner. He has twice served as chief of staff of a large regional hospital. He is a published author on women's health for McGraw-Hill. Learn More
Can vitamin D deficiency cause ED in young men? The truth is, a low vitamin D level is emerging as an underappreciated risk factor for ED — in men of all ages. So, can supplementing with vitamin D help with ED issues for young men? Here’s what we’ve learned.
What Is Vitamin D?
Used as a catchall term for vitamin D2 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D3 (ergocholecalciferol), vitamin D helps regulate the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body. This essential nutrient plays a crucial role in regulating the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body, which is vital not only for maintaining strong bones but also for several other critical functions.
For example, calcium ions are fundamental for processes such as making your heart beat and sending signals to your brain.
One of the ways vitamin D facilitates these processes is by binding to the cells that line your blood vessels. This attachment allows calcium and other vital substances to move from the bloodstream into the tissues where they’re needed.
The interaction between vitamin D and blood vessels may explain how vitamin D deficiency could contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED). Good blood flow is essential for an erection, and since the penis is highly sensitive to circulatory changes, impaired vitamin D levels could affect this process.
Though this connection requires more research for complete understanding, the preliminary data suggests a significant role of vitamin D in maintaining proper blood flow and vascular health.
Vitamin D and Erectile Dysfunction
Vitamin D helps your endothelial cells by providing them with nitric oxide, or NO. Nitric oxide helps keep your endothelial cells flexible and relaxes blood vessels, increasing overall blood flow. Without adequate vitamin D, your blood vessels can become stiffer and less flexible, leading to conditions such as atherosclerosis.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because ED medication does something similar, preventing NO from being broken down so the blood vessels stay open and allow more blood into the penis. In fact, early-onset ED is often considered a symptom of more serious chronic conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
Beyond its vascular benefits, vitamin D may improve erectile function in several ways:
- Vitamin D reportedly helps to slow the progress of diabetes and help people with diabetes more easily manage it.
- Vitamin D may have a role in keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level in combination with other treatments.
- People with high cholesterol have shown improvement while taking vitamin D supplements, possibly by encouraging the body to use up cholesterol to make more vitamin D.
- Some evidence points to vitamin D having an impact on testosterone levels.
The signs also point to a connection between vitamin D deficiency and ED. A small-scale study conducted in 2022 found that vitamin D levels and ED symptoms were correlated, for example, while a 2020 survey of the research found this correlation stood even when separated from other causes.
Researchers aren’t promoting vitamin D as a miracle cure — erectile dysfunction is complex and often has more than one cause. Yet it’s also clear that the effects of vitamin D on sexual health can’t be ignored.
How Do I Get More Vitamin D?
Fortunately, a vitamin D deficiency is relatively easy to fix. Vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning your body can store it for later use, and it can be put into many foods. But first, talk to your doctor about your concerns and see if you have a vitamin D deficiency. If you need more of it, take the following steps.
Eat Foods Rich in Vitamin D
Vitamin D isn’t one of the most commonly occurring vitamins in nature, but you can find vitamin D3 in fatty fish like salmon, swordfish, sardines, and tuna, as well as egg yolks. Vitamin D2 can be found in mushrooms that have been exposed to UV light. This will be noted on the packaging.
More common are foods that have been fortified with vitamin D, including milk, orange juice, and cereals. Check the nutritional information on the package.
Get Some Sun (Safely!)
One of the most common ways to get vitamin D is by sun exposure in a process called skin synthesis. When UV-B light hits the skin, the deeper layers of the epidermis turn cholesterol into vitamin D.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to get too much of a good thing: UV-B light is also the primary culprit for sunburn. Most sunscreens block the vast majority of UV-B light. While you’ll only need 5 to 30 minutes without sunblock most days a week to get enough vitamin D, you might also consider using a medical UV-B lamp, which can get you the rays without risking the burn.
Take Vitamin D Supplements for ED
Because vitamin D isn’t water-soluble, your body stores extra for when you can make use of it. This makes it one of the vitamins worth consideration of supplementing if you have a deficiency.
Ask your doctor about what supplements they recommend. As not all supplements are created equal, and the industry isn’t as tightly regulated as it could be, buying one that your doctor trusts will likely give you the best results.
As we noted, vitamin D isn’t a miracle cure — but it is something your body needs. There’s no downside to making an adequate vitamin D level part of your lifestyle plan for managing ED.
ED Isn’t Inevitable, and Men Can Fight Back
If you have ED, regardless of your age, it’s not something you should be ashamed about or just “live with.” As we’ve seen, there are a lot of simple steps you can take to treat ED that can make a real difference.
When lifestyle changes aren’t enough, FDA-approved oral ED medications, like Viagra, vardenafil, Cialis, and Stendra, are safe and effective solutions for most men.
eDrugstore Has Your Back
At eDrugstore, we can help you find the right ED medication for you. Take advantage of a free telehealth consultation with a U.S.-licensed physician, who will write your prescription. You can even get your medications delivered to your doorstep free of charge. To learn more about putting ED behind you, visit our erectile dysfunction page.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about health and related topics but is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Dan is a long-time freelance writer focusing on technology, science, health, and medicine, with a lifelong interest in physics, biology, and medicine. His work has taken a particular focus on scientific studies “beyond the headlines,” reading the study to more closely examine the results.