Low Carb and ED - Connection?

[atsaaa]

Comrades, another question. My change in HCG dose coincided with me getting into a low carb diet (i.e. less than 30-40 grams per day). I just found out (looking here and on the internet) that low carb diets tend to have ED side effects. Do you believe that this might be my potential problem at the moment, after all? If yes, how long after I introduce carbs, I should start seeing an improvement down there?

 

[Gene Devine]

You should always have a some good carbs in your diet especially if you train or lift weights because they replace glycogen stores. As for causing ED is something I've never read. Can you please post some links to where you have read this please? Thank you.

 

[madman]

If anything complex carbohydrates are some what anti-catabolic as they can help aid in lowering cortisol.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I felt tired and moody. Not a good feeling and not conducive to sex.

 

[CoastWatcher]

That's a new angle I'm not familiar with, but am interested if true.

 

[Vince]

I've been eating low carbs for over 5 years and love it. It's an awesome to control belly fat.

 

[atsaaa]

Well, I haven't found any science paper discussing the issue. Here are a couple of internet articles making the link:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/maki5.htm

http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m/tm.aspx?m=2626492&p=1

I also remember a youtube video of Matt Ogus whonwas on low carb before a bodybuilding show and mentioned that his libodybwas non existent.

 

[TMI]

Well, I haven't found any science paper discussing the issue. Here are a couple of internet articles making the link:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/maki5.htm

http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m/tm.aspx?m=2626492&p=1

I also remember a youtube video of Matt Ogus whonwas on low carb before a bodybuilding show and mentioned that his libodybwas non existent.

I think the term for that is "broscience".

 

[trt4me]

It can happen. Might be because of carbs and dopamine connection.
Personally I don't see the need for low carbs to stay in shape. Bodybuilding shows are very different than being in shape and there is nothing healthy about them.

 

[atsaaa]

Thanks, guys. TMI, I agree it's broscience, but we share anecdotal evidence if these forums as well. Where there's smoke, there's fire. Do a google search and you will find many websites with people claiming the connection.

trt4me, sure. I tried low carb to lose some weight fast and also not feel hungry. I started having complex carbs since yesterday and I will let you know of my experience (of course, that doesn't mean it's the rule). I only mentioned the bodybuilder because he made the claim that other did (I am nowhere near on becoming a bodybuilder lol).

I seem to remember reading on excelmale that carbs increase insulin which in turn helps with the blood vessel lining and therefore NO utilization. Unfortunately I can't find the forum.

 

[captain]

I think there could be a connection with insulin and SHBG level. People with Diabetes have low SHBG. It would be reasonable to think you would have higher SHBG if you was on a strict low carb diet. I have not seen any info on this to say if it's a fact or not.

 

[Vince Carter]

I think there could be a connection with insulin and SHBG level. People with Diabetes have low SHBG. It would be reasonable to think you would have higher SHBG if you was on a strict low carb diet. I have not seen any info on this to say if it's a fact or not.

for your first post here you're about as far off base as you can get. There are plenty of men here, me included, that push SHBG in the low teens that are NOT Diabetic, NOT Pre-Diabetic, and NOT Insulin Resistant.

 

[captain]

for your first post here you're about as far off base as you can get. There are plenty of men here, me included, that push SHBG in the low teens that are NOT Diabetic, NOT Pre-Diabetic, and NOT Insulin Resistant.

So your saying people with Diabetes don't have low SHBG? I was just posting my thoughts on what I have seen over the years reading forums like this one.

I have read obstructive sleep apnea is associated decreased levels of SHBG as well.

 

[Vince]

I think there could be a connection with insulin and SHBG level. People with Diabetes have low SHBG. It would be reasonable to think you would have higher SHBG if you was on a strict low carb diet. I have not seen any info on this to say if it's a fact or not.

Vegetarians have higher SHBG and less chance of getting diabetes.

 

[captain]

I found a study and it looks as carbs don't have an effect on SHBG. Looks like it's saying protein and fiber does. Protein lowers it and fiber increases. I can't post links yet.

 

[MarkLA]

Two hypotheses:

1. Carbs support serotonin and perhaps serotonin would support erectile function. I have been very LC for a long time and just switched back to eating ~100g carbs per day. My mood, energy, body temp, etc. is better. ED was not a problem before and isn't better now.

2. Evolutionarily - I would think that a period of low carbs might look to the brain like a famine. Famine isn't when you want to reproduce. I know I am reaching here but we know when female BF or calories get too low, the periods stop. Perhaps there is a similar mechanism in men.

 

[captain]

I was thinking that too if there was a connection to how animals reproduce and their environment. If a Caveman lived in a northern climate his diet would change with the seasons from low carb to high over and over. The vitamin D levels would also go up and down. You could probably think of 100s of things that could be connected to the environment.

 

[molonlabedoc]

"2. Evolutionarily - I would think that a period of low carbs might look to the brain like a famine. Famine isn't when you want to reproduce. I know I am reaching here but we know when female BF or calories get too low, the periods stop. Perhaps there is a similar mechanism in men."

This is not wrong but

Keto or low carbs does not have to be LOW calories. I stay at or around 3k a day, have maintained my BW at 195 lbs the entire time I have done it. My foray into it was nothing more than an experiment to see how low my BF would drop and if the reported mental clarity was real. After a year, I am baffled at the results. We have to understand everyone has a certain chemistry. If you have been spending 20 or more years feasting on shit, you never know how your body is going to react when you shift over to something it is not used to running on.

 

[captain]

They have always said you got to take her out for dinner first.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

The effects of a low carbohydrate diet on erectile function and serum testosterone levels in hypogonadal men with metabolic syndrome: a randomized clinical trial - BMC Endocrine Disorders

Purpose Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for several diseases. The relationship between metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism is well known. Our objetive is to assess whether a low carbohydrate diet can increase total serum testosterone and improve erectile function in hypogonadal men with...

bmcendocrdisord.biomedcentral.com