Low Folate Levels May Worsen ED and Premature Ejaculation

[Nelson Vergel]

Asian J Androl. 2014 Jul 25. doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.135981. [Epub ahead of print]

A new potential risk factor in patients with erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation: folate deficiency.

Yan WJ, Yu N, Yin TL, Zou YJ, Yang J1.


Abstract

We investigated serum folic acid (FA) levels in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and/or premature ejaculation (PE). Fasting serum samples were obtained from 42 patients with ED, 36 with PE, 25 ED patients with PE, and 30 healthy men; the mean intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) was measured during a 4 weeks baseline period. Levels of sex hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone), homocysteine (Hcys), and FA were measured using chemiluminescent immunoassays. The sexual functions of PE patients and normal control men were evaluated using the Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation (CIPE). The abridged International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire was used to gauge erectile quality for ED patients and for normal controls. Serum FA concentrations were lower in ED (7.61 ± 3.97 ng ml -1), PE (9.37 ± 3.40 ng ml -1), and ED/PE (8.84 ± 4.28 ng ml -1 ) patients than in healthy men (12.23 ± 5.76 ng ml -1 , P < 0.05). No significant differences in sex hormone levels were found between patients with sexual dysfunction and healthy controls (P > 0.05). There were positive correlations between serum FA concentrations and CIPE scores (r = 0.530, P < 0.01), IIEF-5 scores (r = 0.589, P < 0.01), and IELT (r = 0.445, P < 0.01); negative correlations with Hcys concentrations (r = -0.487, P < 0.01) were found in all participants. These findings showed a strong relationship between serum FA levels and sexual dysfunction, possibly due to an effect of FA on the metabolism of nitric oxide, Hcys, and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Sources of folate:

Foods that are rich in naturally occurring folate include lentils; dried beans and peas; dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, collard or turnip greens, okra, and asparagus; and citrus fruit and juice.

 

[giamegan]

very helpful indeed thanks a bucnh really

 

[Tommy Wall]

Besides the veggies maybe a Folid acid supplement could help?

 

[Re-Ride]

https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-benefits-and-risks-of-folic-acid-supplementation/

Folic acid is a synthetic substance which the gov't decided to require as additive to flour and many grain-containing products because it has been demonstrated as effective in reducing neural tube birth defects when consumed by women prior to and early in pregnancy,

HOWEVER concern has been voiced that it's use in other groups is inappropriate perhaps even leading to cancer, espicially that of the prostate and lungs.

Linus Pauling Institute recommends adults over 50 take 400ug/day as part of a multi vitamin.

The Institute of Medicine has established 1,000 ug as the tolerable upper intake level of folic acid from all sources including fortified foods. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/folate#safety

Life Extension recommends folate in the form of L-methylfolate rather than folic acid.

As in so many other nutrients, sourcing natural folate from real food seems infinitely preferable to pill popping.

 

[Re-Ride]

Folic Acid is NOT folate. Incorrectly it had become commonplace, as in this thread, to assume they are one in the same.

Dr. Fuhrman:

"Supplementation with Folic Acid is dangerous!
Do not take multi-vitamins that contain Folic acid." https://www.drfuhrman.com/library/dangers_folic.aspx

Even if your vitamin states "Folate" read the ingredients carefully. It may state "folate as folic acid" in small print.

There are certainly pp out there that will refute the studies which implicate Folic Acid in cancer but why would anyone knowingly ingest this synthetic chemical when there are safer alternatives?