Adherence to Mediterranean diet and erectile dysfunction in men with type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
There are no reported studies assessing the relation between diet and erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we explored the relation between consumption of a Mediterranean-type diet and ED in a population of type 2 diabetic men.


METHODS
Patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled if they had a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for at least six months but less than 10 years, age 35-70 years, body mass index (BMI) of 24 or higher, HbA1c of 6.5% or higher, treatment with diet or oral drugs. All diabetic patients were invited to complete a food-frequency questionnaire and self-report measures of sexual function. A total of 555 (90.8%) of the 611 diabetic men completed both questionnaires and were analyzed in the present study.


METHODS
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet was assessed by a 9-point scale that incorporated the salient characteristics of this diet (range of scores, 0-9, with higher scores indicating greater adherence). ED was assessed with the International Index of Erectile Function-5.


RESULTS
Diabetic men with the highest scores (6-9) had lower BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio, a lower prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome, a higher level of physical activity, and better glucose and lipid profiles than the diabetic men who scored <3 points on the scale. The proportion of sexually active men showed a significant increase across tertiles of adherence to Mediterranean diet (from 65.1% to 74.4%, P = 0.01). Moreover, men with the highest score of adherence were more likely to have a lower prevalence of global ED (51.9% vs. 62%, P = 0.01) and severe ED (16.5% vs. 26.4%, P = 0.01) as compared with low adherers.


CONCLUSIONS
In men with type 2 diabetes, greater adherence to Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower prevalence of ED.
Giugliano
Francesco
F
Division of Urology, Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Maiorino
Maria Ida
MI
Bellastella
Giuseppe
G
Autorino
Riccardo
R
De Sio
Marco
M
Giugliano
Dario
D
Esposito
Katherine
K
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean / Q000523:psychology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human