title: Association between serum folic acid level and erectile dysfunction.
abstract: This study measured the serum folic acid (FA) level in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and evaluated the possible association between the serum FA level and erectile function. The study divided 120 patients with ED into 3 groups of 40 patients each: those with severe, moderate and mild ED. Forty healthy men served as controls. Fasting serum samples were obtained, and the total testosterone, cholesterol and FA levels were measured using chemiluminescent immunoassays. There were no significant differences in the mean age, mean body mass index or mean serum total testosterone and cholesterol levels among the three ED groups and controls (P > 0.05). The mean serum FA concentrations were 7.2 ± 3.7, 7.1 ± 3.2, 10.2 ± 4.6 and 10.7 ± 4.6 ng ml(-1) in the severe, moderate and mild ED and control groups respectively. The mean serum FA concentration was significantly higher in the control group than in the severe and moderate ED groups (both P < 0.001), but not the mild ED group (P = 0.95). Considering the significant differences in the serum FA levels between the control and ED groups, serum FA deficiency might reflect the severity of ED.
authors: Urology Department, Erzincan University, Mengucek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Karabakan
authors: Urology Department, Oltu State Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Erkmen
authors: Urology Department, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Guzel
authors: Urology Department, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: B K
authors: BK
authors: Aktas
authors: Urology Department, Erzincan University, Mengucek Gazi Training and Research Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bozkurt
authors: Urology Department, İzmir University, Medical Park Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Akdemir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D005492:Folic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Erectile dysfunction; folic acid; nitric oxide