Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the consistent or recurrent inability to attain and/or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual performance.
Ranked by community outcomes, then evidence grade, Health Voice mentions, and recency.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Zinc is essential for testosterone production and sperm quality, and its deficiency can impair these functions, potentially contributing to erectile dysfunction.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Vitamin D may improve erectile dysfunction by enhancing endothelial function, reducing inflammation, and increasing nitric oxide production, which are crucial for healthy blood flow to the penis.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: L-Arginine may improve erectile dysfunction by increasing nitric oxide production, which relaxes the smooth muscles in the penis, allowing for increased blood flow necessary for an erection.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Ginseng may improve erectile dysfunction by enhancing nitric oxide synthesis, promoting vasodilation, and reducing oxidative stress in penile tissues, leading to improved blood flow and erectile quality.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: L-Citrulline increases nitric oxide production, which relaxes smooth muscles in penile blood vessels, improving blood flow necessary for achieving and maintaining an erection.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Tribulus Terrestris may improve erectile dysfunction by potentially increasing nitric oxide production and enhancing androgen receptor density, which can lead to improved penile blood flow and sexual function.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Panax Ginseng may improve erectile dysfunction by increasing nitric oxide production, promoting vasodilation, and reducing oxidative stress in the penile tissues, thereby enhancing blood flow and erectile function.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Pycnogenol enhances nitric oxide synthesis, which promotes vasodilation and improves blood flow to the penis, thereby supporting erectile function.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Exercise may improve erectile dysfunction by enhancing cardiovascular health, improving endothelial function, and increasing nitric oxide availability, all of which contribute to better penile blood flow.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Ashwagandha may improve erectile dysfunction by reducing stress and anxiety, which can interfere with sexual function, and potentially by improving testosterone levels and nitric oxide production.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Magnesium may improve erectile dysfunction by promoting vasodilation, improving endothelial function, and potentially influencing testosterone levels, all of which contribute to better penile blood flow and erectile quality.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Tongkat Ali may improve erectile dysfunction by increasing testosterone levels and reducing stress, which can enhance libido and improve endothelial function, thereby supporting better erectile quality.
Why it may help Erectile Dysfunction: Omega-3 fatty acids may improve erectile dysfunction by enhancing endothelial function, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow to the penis, which are critical for achieving and maintaining erections.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vital antioxidant and coenzyme involved in cellular energy production, often supplemented to support cardiovascular health and mitigate age-related declines or medication-induced deficiencies.
Community outcomes
Self-reported by community members · not medical advice.
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Community Discussions
How global health authorities view Erectile Dysfunction.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Mayo Clinic acknowledge that lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, are important for managing ED, especially when linked to cardiovascular health. They also note that some herbal remedies are marketed for ED but often lack robust scientific evidence for efficacy and safety, and may interact with medications. The European Association of Urology guidelines mention L-arginine and Panax ginseng as potential options but emphasize the need for more high-quality research. The World Health Organization (WHO) does not specifically endorse natural remedies for ED but promotes general health and well-being. NCCIH advises caution with dietary supplements for ED due to potential for undisclosed ingredients and adverse effects.
Indexed studies for Erectile Dysfunction, grouped by source type and quality.
Overall grade (B)
Grade reflects the count, type, and consistency of indexed evidence across all source categories.
Filter by source type
Pooled analyses across multiple human trials.
Li T, He X, Huang W, Liu G, Feng Q · The journal of sexual medicine · 2026 · n=1477
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is increasingly recognized as a marker of vascular and metabolic health, but the overall effect of lifestyle intervention on erectile function remains uncertain. To evaluate the efficacy of diet- and/or exercise-based lifestyle interventions for improving erectile function in men with ED. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to December 2025 for randomized controlled trials evaluating lifestyle interventions in adult men with ED. Eligible studies compared exercise-only, diet-only, or combined diet-and-exercise interventions with usual care, standard treatment, or no intervention. The primary analysis assessed change in erectile function using validated International Index of Erectile Function. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane tool, certainty of evidence with GRADE, and pooled mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. Prespecifie
Nutraceutical interventions for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Barbonetti A, Tienforti D, Antolini F, Spagnolo L, Cavallo F, Di Pasquale AB · The journal of sexual medicine · 2024 · n=1000
Although nutraceutical-based treatments are often offered for erectile dysfunction (ED), their efficacy remains doubtful, and the choice of one substance over the other is challenged by the dearth of head-to-head comparative studies. We aimed to compare the efficacy of available nutraceutical interventions, alone or in combination with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), in improving erectile function in men with ED through a network meta-analysis (NMA), which incorporates direct and indirect evidence into one model thus generating a hierarchy of effectiveness. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of any nutraceutical regimen in improving erectile function when compared to each other, placebo, and/or PDE5i in men with ED. Data were included in a random-effects NMA, where efficacy of treatments was ranked by surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Two NMAs
Association between caffeine intake and erectile dysfunction: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.
Karimi M, Asbaghi O, Kazemi K, Sedgi FM, Soleimani E, Moghadam HK · Journal of health, population, and nutrition · 2024
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition with various contributing factors, including lifestyle and dietary habits. Caffeine, a widely consumed stimulant, has been linked to multiple physiological effects on vascular function and hormonal balance that might influence sexual function. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the association between caffeine intake and the risk of ED by analyzing data from cohort studies. A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases, and a manual search was conducted on Google Scholar for studies on the relationship between caffeine intake and ED in adult men. The search included observational studies published up to April 1, 2024. Four cohort studies were included, and their data were extracted and analyzed by STATA version 18. Four included cohort studies comprised 51,665 cohort members. The study population included adult males, on average, aged 18 to 80. The results indicate that there was no signi
Structured reviews of the full body of evidence (incl. Cochrane).
Does acupuncture improve sexual dysfunction? A systematic review.
Abdi F, Alimoradi Z, Roozbeh N, Amjadi MA, Robatjazi M · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine · 2023
Sexual dysfunction can adversely affect the quality of life and interpersonal relationships. nowadays, a lot of attention is paid to traditional Chinese medicine with better curative effects and less adverse events. Recent studies have implied the promising effect of acupuncture on sexual function. This systematic review evaluate the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture in treating female and male sexual dysfunction. PubMed, Cochrane Central of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched up to 2021. No limitation to language and date. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Among 160 initially assessed papers, 13 articles were included. The findings showed that acupuncture improve sexual dysfunction in domains of desire, libido, erectile dysfunction and impotency. Most studies d
Leisegang K, Finelli R · Arab journal of urology · 2021
Objectives: To systematically review and discuss the current evidence from placebo-controlled clinical trials that investigated the use of alternative medicines and herbal remedies in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-based systematic review using specific keyword combinations was conducted on the PubMed and Scopus databases. Randomised controlled trials investigating herbal medicine in at least one group and using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) as an outcome in patients primarily diagnosed with ED were included for review. Results: Following the literature search, screening and eligibility analysis, a total of 42 articles were included. The 42 articles were categorised as single herb extractions (n = 14), combination herbal formula (n = 5), combination of herbal formula and non-herbal nutraceuticals (n = 7), non-herbal nutraceuticals (n = 5), acupu
An Analysis of Popular Online Erectile Dysfunction Supplements.
Balasubramanian A, Thirumavalavan N, Srivatsav A, Yu J, Hotaling JM, Lipshultz LI · The journal of sexual medicine · 2019
Erectile dysfunction supplements (ED-Ss) are featured on online marketplaces like Amazon.com, with dedicated pages and claims that they naturally treat ED. However, their efficacy and safety are largely unknown, limiting the ability to counsel patients regarding their use. To evaluate the highest rated and most frequently reviewed ED-Ss on Amazon.com to facilitate patient counseling regarding marketing myths, ingredient profiles, and evidence for product efficacy and safety. The Amazon marketplace was queried using the key term "erectile dysfunction" with default search settings and ranking items based on relevance. The top 6 ED-S products identified on September 29, 2018, were reviewed based on price, ratings, reviews, manufacturer, and ingredients. Consumer reviews were categorized using subtopics within the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire to better understand ED-S efficacy and then reanalyzed following filtration of untrustworthy comments using Review
Recommendations from medical societies (NICE, AHA, ADA, ACG, Endocrine Society…).
Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation: assessment and management
NICE
This NICE quality standard covers the assessment and management of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation in men over 18. It aims to improve care by outlining key quality statements for healthcare professionals.
Controlled human studies with random assignment.
Acupuncture for erectile dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial.
Zhu M, Quan F, Xue K, Xiao C, Cui J · Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion · 2024
To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in treating erectile dysfunction (ED). A total of 64 ED patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 2 case dropped out) and a western medication group (32 cases, 2 cases dropped out). In the acupuncture group, acupuncture treatment was applied at Baihui (GV 20), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Dahe (KI 12), Qugu (CV 2), Zusanli (ST 36), and etc., two groups of acupoints were used alternately, 30 min each time, once every other day. In the western medication group, 50 mg of sildenafil tablet was took orally 1 h before sexual activity. Both groups were treated for 30 d. The international index of erectile function citrate (IIEF-5) score, self rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, self rating depression scale (SDS) score, TCM syndrome score were observed before and after treatment, and in follow-up of 2 weeks after treatment completion, the serum testosterone (T) level was detected before and after treatme
Leitão AE, Vieira MCS, Pelegrini A, da Silva EL, Guimarães ACA · Maturitas · 2021 · n=45
Androgen deficiency of aging males (ADAM) largely manifests as sexual symptoms. Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common symptoms of ADAM. To ascertain the effect of concurrent training and supplementation with Eurycoma longifolia on erectile function and testosterone levels in men with ADAM, and the association of erectile function with levels of total testosterone. 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled four-arm clinical. 45 men (47.38 ± 5.03 years) were randomized into 4 groups (G1: control + placebo; G2: control + Eurycoma longifolia; G3: concurrent training + placebo; G4: concurrent training + Eurycoma longifolia). 22 received a 200 mg supplement of Eurycoma longifolia and 23 underwent the intervention with concurrent training, 3 times a week for 60 min at progressive intensity. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), Aging Male Scale (AMS) and total testosterone. Erectile function demonstrated improvements in both interventions; however, t
The Mediterranean diet, its components, and cardiovascular disease.
Widmer RJ, Flammer AJ, Lerman LO, Lerman A · The American journal of medicine · 2015
One of the best-studied diets for cardiovascular health is the Mediterranean diet. This consists of fish, monounsaturated fats from olive oil, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes/nuts, and moderate alcohol consumption. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce the burden, or even prevent the development, of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, depression, colorectal cancer, diabetes, obesity, asthma, erectile dysfunction, and cognitive decline. This diet is also known to improve surrogates of cardiovascular disease, such as waist-to-hip ratio, lipids, and markers of inflammation, as well as primary cardiovascular disease outcomes such as death and events in both observational and randomized controlled trial data. These enhancements easily rival those seen with more established tools used to fight cardiovascular disease such as aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and exercise. However, it is unclear if the Mediterranean diet offers cardiovascu
Cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional human studies.
He X, Li T, Huang W, Liu G, Yang T, Zhang X · Sexual medicine reviews · 2026 · n=1874
Many erectile dysfunction (ED) patients respond inadequately to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is). Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) have emerged as potential alternative or adjunct treatments for improving erectile function. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of various NPIs for ED through a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251083286), this NMA followed PRISMA guidelines. Eight databases were searched for RCTs through December 2025. Evaluated NPIs included Electrical Stimulation (ES), Exercise, Low-intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (Li-ESWT), Acupuncture-Based Therapies (ABT), and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HOT). Outcomes were the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), Erection Hardness Score (EHS), Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) and Adverse Events (AEs). Risk of bias (RoB 2.0) and evidence certainty (CINeMA) were independently assessed. 31 RCTs (1874 participants) were in
Ma J, Wei J, Li J, Yu M, Lu S, Zeng H · The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male · 2026
This umbrella review aimed to summarize and provide a general evaluation of the effectiveness of current treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) and assess the quality of evidence. This umbrella review available in PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Embase, covering studies published up to October 2025, was conducted. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) or its simplified version and the erectile hardness score (EHS) were used as endpoints to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments. Of 1191 studies, 23 published meta-analyses were extracted, yielding 42 summary effects on IIEF (n = 20), the international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5) (n = 9), the international index of erectile function-erectile function (IIEF-EF) (n = 6), and EHS (n = 7) on 36 interventions. All meta-analyses were analyzed via the AMSTAR-2, of which 13 (56.5%) were rated as critically low quality, 7 (30.5%) were rated
Vilar Neto JO, de Moraes WMAM, Pinto DV, da Silva CA, Caminha JSR, Nunes Filho JCC · Nutrients · 2025 · n=162
Background: Tribulus terrestris L. Zygophyllaceae (TT) is a plant that has been claimed to increase testosterone levels and improve sexual function, particularly erectile dysfunction, with potential benefits for male sexual health. Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of TT supplementation in improving sexual function and serum testosterone levels in men. Methods: We conducted a systematic review adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. After searching the literature (n = 162), 52 studies were selected for full-text reading, and 10 studies were eligible for this review, comprising 9 clinical trials and 1 quasi-experimental study (a study without a control). The Jadad score revealed low methodological quality for 50% of the studies. Results: The studies involved 15 to 172 participants (total = 483) aged between 16 and 70 years with different health conditions: healthy men (n = 5), oligozoosperm
Public-health agencies: NCCIH, NIH, CDC, NHS.
WHO
The World Health Organization provides general information and frameworks related to sexual health, which encompasses aspects relevant to erectile dysfunction within a broader public health context. It highlights the importance of sexual well-being.
Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
NHS
The NHS offers clear and accessible information on erectile dysfunction, covering causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and various treatment options available in the UK. It serves as a trusted guide for patients.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
This page from NIDDK, part of the NIH, offers general health information on erectile dysfunction, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. It provides an accessible overview for the public.
Registered ongoing or completed trials (ClinicalTrials.gov).
n=102 · NCT00662441 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. An ideal treatment option should be effective and reliable, have minimal side effects, be simple to use and affordable. The purpose was the evaluation of efficacy and safety of 10 mg oral Vardenafil in Nigerian subjects with Erectile Dysfunction (ED).
The Incidence and Treatment of Insulin Resistance Among Men With Erectile Dysfunction
n=30 · NCT00284960 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED
Determine if men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are more likely to have insulin resistance compared to healthy controls.
n=15 · NCT01054859 · COMPLETED · COMPLETED
The purpose of this study is primarily to evaluate whether taking avanafil with alcohol causes the blood pressure to fall.
Curated cross-source summaries (TRIP Database and similar).
Cochrane Library: Erectile Dysfunction
Cochrane
The Cochrane Library offers systematic reviews and protocols related to erectile dysfunction, synthesizing the best available evidence to inform healthcare decisions. It's a key resource for evidence-based medicine.
TRIP Database
TRIP Database allows users to rapidly find high-quality clinical evidence, including guidelines, systematic reviews, and primary research, related to erectile dysfunction. It's a powerful tool for informed clinical decision-making.
Conventional medical care for erectile dysfunction often involves oral medications like phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil), vacuum erection devices, penile injections, or penile implants. Addressing underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease is also a key component of treatment. Psychological counseling may be recommended for psychogenic ED.
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This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health or treatment, especially if you have an underlying medical condition or are taking medications.
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