Men with high cholesterol or at high risk of cardiovascular disease may improve their erection with statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs, according to the results of a study presented at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology and published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Statins improve men’s erections by 24.3%
Researchers at Rutgers University performed a meta-analysis of 11 scientific studies on erectile dysfunction. It reveals that the erectile function of subjects treated with statins improved by 24.3%. The blood vessel dilating effect of statins would therefore be effective in improving erection.
“Statins improve cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks, but also play a beneficial role in erectile function Explains Dr. John B. Kostis, co-author of the study. “Improvements in erectile function reached up to 50% of the results obtained with Viagra, Cialis or Levitra (treatments used against erectile dysfunction)”, adds Dr. John B. Kostis.
The main causes of erectile dysfunction are cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking, depression, stress and age.
“A healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent diseases, including erectile dysfunction,” says Dr. Kostis. “However, statin therapy has already proven its long-term benefits in reducing cardiovascular disease and the adverse consequences associated with it. If this treatment also improves erectile function, it could stimulate and encourage men to treat their cholesterol and heart problems, ”says the author of the study. “On the other hand, even if the results of this study are encouraging, there is no question of prescribing statins only to treat erectile dysfunction »Adds the researcher.
