Key takeaways
Vitamins and supplements, such as Vitamin B9 (folic acid), Vitamin D, Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin C, and L-arginine, may offer some benefits for erectile dysfunction (ED), but they are generally not as effective as prescription medications like Viagra.
A lack of certain vitamins, like Vitamins B9, D, and B3, has been linked to erectile dysfunction, and supplementing with these vitamins may help improve erectile function, especially in individuals with deficiencies or related health issues.
L-arginine, an amino acid that helps increase levels of nitric oxide, may improve blood flow and lead to better erections, although studies on its effectiveness for ED have small sample sizes and are limited.
Consulting with a healthcare provider is crucial before trying any new supplements or vitamins for erectile dysfunction, as they can provide personalized advice and help avoid potential side effects or interactions with other medications.
In this article:
- Can vitamins treat erectile dysfunction?
- Best vitamins for erectile dysfunction
- Other natural remedies for ED
- Talking to your doctor
- Can vitamins treat erectile dysfunction?
- Best vitamins for erectile dysfunction
- Other natural remedies for ED
- Talking to your doctor
Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects 30 million men in the U.S. every year. If you’ve had difficulty achieving or maintaining a penile erection, you’ve probably seen the ads for herbal remedies and supplements promising to boost sexual performance and wondered, “Could they work for me?” The most effective and proven treatments are prescription medications (like Viagra), and lifestyle changes such as weight loss and reduced alcohol consumption. However, if supplements are more your thing, there are some vitamins for erectile dysfunction that may be effective.
RELATED: ED treatments and medications
Can vitamins treat erectile dysfunction?
Many men use a combination of vitamins and medications to treat ED. In a 2021 SingleCare survey, 63% of respondents reported taking medication, and 31% reported taking vitamins, supplements, or herbs for ED.
There is limited evidence and a lack of clinical trials to prove the effectiveness of vitamins in treating erectile dysfunction, especially when compared to prescription medications like Viagra or Revatio (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and Stendra (avanafil).
Still, there are times when your doctor may suggest trying these vitamins; for example, in combination with prescription medications, or when prescription erectile dysfunction medications cannot be tolerated or interact with your other prescription medications.
While there is some evidence that vitamins could help erectile dysfunction, it’s generally agreed that they don’t treat or cure the condition with the same efficacy as prescription medications. Consult a healthcare provider before using any vitamin or dietary supplement for ED and ask for medical advice regarding the recommended dosage.
Best vitamins for erectile dysfunction | ||
---|---|---|
Vitamin, herb, or supplement | Treatment for ED | More information* |
Vitamin B9 (folic acid) | A lack of folic acid may cause high homocysteine levels, which can impair erectile function. Supplementing with folic acid may help with erections. This study suggests that folic acid can help ED but should be used along with a PDE5 inhibitor like Viagra. | Get vitamin B9 coupons |
Vitamin D | A significant number of men with ED have a vitamin D deficiency, so vitamin D supplementation may help improve ED | Get vitamin D coupons |
Vitamin B3 (niacin) | One study showed that niacin may help improve erectile function in patients with moderate to severe ED who also have high cholesterol. | Get vitamin B3 coupons |
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | It supports the biochemical pathways leading to nitric oxide release, which is essential in increasing blood flow and achieving erections. | Get vitamin C coupons |
L-arginine | Studies on L-arginine are limited and have small sample sizes but found that L-arginine may help ED | Get L-arginine coupons |
*When purchasing an OTC vitamin or supplement, you will need a prescription from a healthcare provider in order to use the SingleCare discount.
Vitamin B9 (folic acid)
A 2014 study noted that men with ED had lower levels of folic acid. A more recent 2020 study concluded that men who took folic acid daily had improvements in their ED. However, the study noted that folic acid should be used along with a prescription phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor such as Viagra.
Vitamin B9-rich foods
Foods that are great sources of B9 include:
- Green, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale
- Other vegetables like beets, brussels sprouts, and broccoli
- Legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils
- Certain fruits, such as avocado, citrus fruit, bananas, and papaya
- Eggs
- Cereals, rice, and pasta
Vitamin B9 side effects
Be mindful that side effects of consuming too much folic acid can include gas and bloating, restless sleep, and depression. Be sure to take the proper dose in order to avoid these side effects.
Vitamin D
Multiple studies have shown that many people who experience erectile dysfunction are also vitamin D deficient. A 2018 study suggested that achieving healthy levels of vitamin D could improve testosterone levels, thereby increasing erectile function.
A 2020 meta-analysis, which looks at many studies, concluded that severe forms of ED are associated with vitamin D deficiency. Another 2020 review of studies agrees, stating, “Evidence showed that vitamin D is needed for an adequate erectile function. Briefly, vitamin D is crucial for a better healthy body and sexual activity.”
Additional research is needed to understand how effective vitamin D is when used to treat ED. But, even if a vitamin deficiency does not directly cause erectile dysfunction, there are plenty of benefits to a vitamin D supplement. If you have low vitamin D levels, upping your vitamin D intake can help foster a healthy immune system and support bone health.
Vitamin D-rich foods
Aside from getting enough sunlight (fun fact: vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin”), other good sources of vitamin D are:
- Fatty fish and seafood like salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, shrimp, and oysters
- Cheese
- Egg yolks
- Mushrooms
- Vitamin-D fortified foods including cow’s milk, orange juice, yogurt, and plant-based milk alternatives like almond or soy milk
Vitamin D side effects
Although vitamin D toxicity is rare, if you have too much, you may experience extreme side effects like kidney damage and heart rhythm issues.
Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Vitamin B3, otherwise known as niacin, is one of the few vitamins with promising research showing efficacy in boosting erectile function. That said, the sample size of the existing studies has been very small, and research with larger sample sizes is required.
Niacin is known to help decrease high cholesterol levels, and may also help reduce blood pressure, both of which can contribute to impotence. One study concluded that in patients with ED and high cholesterol, niacin helped improve erectile function. If these health problems are the underlying cause of your ED, niacin may help increase circulation to your penis so you can achieve an erection.
Vitamin B3-rich foods
To naturally up your intake of vitamin B3, try eating more of the following foods:
- Certain proteins such as liver, chicken breast, tuna, and turkey
- Avocado
- Green peas
- Mushrooms
Vitamin B3 side effects
The most common side effect of niacin is flushing of the skin. Starting at a lower dose and slowly increasing the dose may help; some people find that taking aspirin (if tolerated) helps with flushing as well. Other adverse side effects of consuming too much niacin include blurred vision, nausea, and liver issues.
RELATED: Niacin benefits and side effects
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
There is no evidence that vitamin C is effective at directly improving erectile dysfunction. In order to get an erection, your body needs to release nitric oxide. Vitamin C does not release nitric oxide directly, but it can support the biochemical pathways necessary for its release (along with folic acid, calcium, and vitamin E). A prescription phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, like Viagra, may enhance the benefits of vitamin C.
Vitamin C-rich foods
Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin C. You can easily reach the recommended daily value by eating a red pepper, drinking ¾ of a cup of orange juice, or eating 1 ½ oranges daily. If you’d like to incorporate more vitamin C into your diet, try eating:
- Melons like cantaloupe and watermelon
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit
- Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower
- Spinach and other leafy greens
Vitamin C side effects
Vitamin C side effects can include headache, nausea, vomiting, and flushing. Taking too much vitamin C can increase the risk of kidney stones.
L-arginine
Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels, improving blood flow and circulation. L-arginine is a naturally occurring amino acid that helps increase levels of nitric oxide. Increasing L-arginine with supplements will increase nitric oxide, which may help lead to increased blood flow and better erections.
A 1999 study found L-arginine to be helpful for ED in men with low levels of nitric oxide in their system—however, this study looked at very high doses of L-arginine. A more recent 2019 review of studies concluded that L-arginine may help ED, but that studies are limited, and sample sizes were small in the studies that are available.
L-arginine-rich foods
Foods that are high in L-arginine include:
- Nuts and seeds, including pumpkin or squash seeds
- Watermelon
- Meat, including turkey, chicken, pork, and beef
- Legumes
- Seaweed
L-arginine-rich side effects
Side effects of L-arginine may include stomach issues (diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain), gout, allergies, worsening of asthma, and low blood pressure.
Other vitamins, supplements, and herbs for erectile dysfunction
Here is a brief overview of other vitamins or supplements for erectile dysfunction. Consult your healthcare provider before using any supplements.
- L-carnitine: A 2004 study looked at men with diabetes who did not respond to Viagra treatment alone. When l-carnitine was added to Viagra treatment, the men in the study had better results than when Viagra was used alone.
- Tribulus terrestris (TT): The jury is still out on this one—a very small study in 2014 of 30 men concluded that this supplement was not more effective than placebo (inactive medication). However, a 2017 study (where 86 men took TT and 86 took placebo) of men with mild to moderate ED found that after 12 weeks, those who took TT had an improvement in sexual function compared to those who took a placebo pill.
- Citrulline: A 2011 study found citrulline to improve ED symptoms, although citrulline was less effective than PDE5 inhibitors.
- Vitamin E and ginseng: A 2019 study found that men who took a supplement that contained both vitamin E and ginseng for six weeks had improved erectile function. Ginseng is not safe for everyone, and it does have some drug interactions, so consult your healthcare provider before using it.
RELATED: Save on vitamins and meds with a SingleCare prescription discount card
Other natural remedies for ED
Here are some other tips that you can try to help improve your sexual health:
- Diet: Try adding some foods like watermelon, spinach, blackberries, and oatmeal to your diet, while avoiding alcohol, sugary drinks, and soy-based products. Eating healthier can help you lose weight, which can help ED as well.
- Exercise: Exercise can help you lose weight, which can help ED. Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure what exercise is best for you. Also, Kegels aren’t just for women—they can help ED in men, too.
- Get regular medical care: Because other health issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes can contribute to ED, see your healthcare provider regularly to monitor and/or treat any other conditions that could be related to your ED.
- Stress relief: Stress can contribute to ED, so focusing on stress relief may help. Talk to a therapist and/or try meditation.
- Stop smoking: Another reason to stop smoking—not only is smoking bad for your lungs and heart, but it can also contribute to ED. Ask your healthcare provider to help you with a smoking cessation program.
- Get quality sleep: Because poor quality or sleep and tiredness can lead to ED, focus on improving your sleep quality.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture is safe for most people and may help sexual health.
Talk to your healthcare provider
If you are experiencing symptoms of ED, contact your healthcare provider. Medical professionals such as your primary care provider, a urologist, or an endocrinologist can diagnose and treat ED. Be sure to speak openly with your healthcare provider about your symptoms and lifestyle, so he or she can develop an individualized treatment plan for you.
Always ask your doctor before trying any new vitamins or supplements so you can avoid adverse effects and medication interactions.