Erectile dysfunction from the perspective of epigenetics

The ability to get an erection is a sensitive topic for men, which is closely linked to their self-esteem. However, problems in this area are very common, after forty, approximately how old you are, so many men your age have serious problems with erections (at fifty, it is about half). How can we address them with epigenetics?

Erection problems usually have three basic causes:

• a problem with blood flow,
• reduced testosterone levels,
• psychological factors.

Blood circulation is essential

In the penis we do not find any “muscle lifter”, as many people believe. Inside there are only spongy bodies, which are infused with blood and thus gain volume. The first condition for everything to work as it should is to get enough blood to the area in question.

A young, slim and healthy man usually has no problem with this – all it takes is a sufficiently arousing stimulus, the blood vessels in the abdomen and the penis itself dilate, blood starts flowing to the spongy bodies and the erection does not wait long. However, corroded blood vessels affected by atherosclerosis have a narrowed permeability and limited elasticity, blood flows through them only to a limited extent, so that often erection either does not occur at all or cannot be maintained.

In the case of erectile dysfunction, there is at least the advantage of not dying from it. Unfortunately, however, if the blood vessels in the lower abdomen are in disarray, the same can usually be said of those in the rest of the body, and there the consequences can be fatal – perhaps in the form of a heart attack or stroke. Insufficient circulation can be the first sign that something is wrong with the vascular system.

Fight inflammation

With vascular conditions, prevention is the most important. Here, the first place should be the fight against inflammatory processes in the body. Inflammation is at the root of all atherosclerotic processes. Of course, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels are also important, but if the blood vessel walls are in good condition, cholesterol will squeeze past them without serious consequences. However, if they are disturbed by an inflammatory process, the door to atherosclerotic changes is open.

Inflammatory processes are largely epigenetic in nature. They are triggered when substances called prostaglandins (particularly prostaglandin E2) start to form at the site in question, but an enzyme called cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) is required for their formation. So if we can block the production of this enzyme and also influence the production of some other substances, such as transcription factors, we can prevent inflammation or suppress inflammation that is already occurring. And how can we do this? The best way is by reducing the activity of the genes that produce COX-2 and other important substances.

Nutrition, exercise, optimal weight

Weight management is an important step to reduce the level of inflammatory processes, because obesity is essentially a whole-body inflammation and also directly affects the epigenetic reactions, especially gene methylation.

Dietary modification is also important. For example, excessive carbohydrate intake leads to negative epigenetic changes that promote inflammation rates in the body. A high intake of saturated fat is also harmful, as is smoking and excessive stress. Regular exercise, on the other hand, has a positive effect.

Epigenetic dietary supplements with anti-inflammatory effects can be of great help. Mostly nutrients or herbs that are a normal part of our diet, but if taken in high concentrations, their effects can be very effective.

For example, you can try curcumin (but this must be taken together with piperine), EGCG from green tea, pomegranate, ginger or omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, most of these supplements help to reduce not only inflammation levels, but blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Beneficial nitric oxide

Direct support of blood supply to the tissues is also important. A substance called nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role here. It acts as a so-called signal molecule – it can penetrate the cell wall and subsequently change the behaviour of the cell. The main effect of NO is vasodilatation, or the widening of blood vessels, which allows more blood to reach the relevant tissues. Athletes use this effect to increase their performance, because they get more nutrients and oxygen to the working muscles, but the improved blood flow also affects the brain, heart and, of course, the genitals.

It is the promotion of NO production that is the main basis of Viagra’s effect, but many natural remedies work in a similar way. Popular are, for example, the amino acid arginine (usually taken together with citrulline or ornithine), beetroot juice, but two epigenetic nutrients – curcumin and pomegranate – are also very effective. Their advantage is that they improve blood circulation not only immediately after ingestion, but also in the long term.

Blood vessels without deposits

If atherosclerotic processes in the blood vessels have already progressed, vitamin K2 is also a useful aid. It has recently become a very popular dietary supplement for osteoporosis because it is necessary for the incorporation of calcium into bone mass, but K2 can also support the opposite process, i.e. the release of calcium from places where its deposition is undesirable, i.e. from the vessel walls.

Atherosclerotic plaques are not only formed by cholesterol, but also by calcium deposits. Vitamin K2 activates the MPG protein, which can clean the blood vessels of calcium compounds. In animal experiments on atherosclerosis sufferers, for example, atherosclerotic plaques were reduced by more than a third after six weeks of taking K2!

Aimed at testosterone

An equally important factor for the ability to get an erection (but also for the actual desire for sex) is the level of testosterone in the body. This generally declines with age, but it is within our power to slow its decline significantly. For example, testosterone secretion is promoted by physical activity, especially weight training. Again, weight management is important, as fat tissue absorbs this hormone. And here, too, dietary supplements can help. As far as epigenetic ones are concerned, pomegranate is clearly the most effective. But some adaptogens, such as suma or maca, also work well.

Complicated psyche

There is one last, but again very crucial factor – and that is psyche. Here, unfortunately, the situation is much more complex, but again, epigenetics can play a positive role. After all, depression and other psychological problems also have epigenetic causes.

Regular exercise is beneficial here, but here it is more of an endurance type, and you can try omega-3, curcumin or saffron supplements.