What Is The Vitamin B12 Dosage For Erectile Dysfunction? – Introduction
Yoga provides a natural, whole body solution to enhance sexual function in men suffering from erectile dysfunction. It decreases stress and anxiety, increases circulation, strengthens pelvic floor muscles, increases vigilance, and increases testosterone — all of which would go a long way toward improving sexual health. We still have a lot of work to do on whether yoga helps with ED, but the evidence from these studies is positive. Within a treatment regimen for ED, yoga has many health benefits and can therefore lead to an increased quality of life for men with ED.
What Is The Vitamin B12 Dosage For Erectile Dysfunction?
Vitamin B12
Cobalamin or vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that’s crucial to the nervous system, red blood cell function, and the production of DNA. It naturally occurs in animal foods (meat, fish, and dairy), but it can also be obtained through supplements. Vitamin B12 deficiency is very common – especially in older adults, vegetarians and people suffering from certain illnesses – and is known to cause many symptoms including anemia, tiredness and brain fog.
Erectile Dysfunction:
The failure to attain or maintain an erection good enough for sex is called ED, which is estimated to affect 30 million men in the US. It can be caused by physical, psychological and lifestyle factors. As an alternative to drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), many men opt for alternative natural remedies, including Vitamin B12, to treat ED symptoms.
The Link Between Vitamin B12 and ED:
In the past few years, the connection between vitamin B12 and erectile dysfunction has become a topic of curiosity. Some studies have found that B12 deficiencies could lead to ED and that vitamin B12 could relieve symptoms. According to a study from the International Journal of Impotence Research, ED men were more likely than non-ED men to have deficient levels of vitamin B12. What’s more, a 2016 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine revealed that men with ED with vitamin B12 deficiency responded to treatment with sildenafil (Viagra) far less effectively than those with adequate vitamin B12.
Potential Mechanisms:
There could be multiple ways Vitamin B12 is related to ED. One potential mechanism is the fact that Vitamin B12 regulates the production of nitric oxide, a compound that contracts blood vessels and promotes better blood supply to the penis. Lack of Vitamin B12 can reduce nitric oxide production, which lowers blood flow to the penis and exacerbates ED.
A different mechanism is that Vitamin B12 is a chemical produced by the body’s production of neurotransmitters, molecules that carry signals throughout the brain and nervous system. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 may also inhibit the release of neurotransmitters, which compromises nerves and erectile dysfunction.
So what is the recommended dosage of vitamin B12 for those with erectile dysfunction?
The RDA (recommended daily allowance) for vitamin B12 in adults is 2.4 mcg but some doctors believe that higher doses may be required in people with ED. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, men who took 1,500 mcg of vitamin B12 daily for 12 weeks reported increased erectile function. In another article published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, men suffering from ED who consumed 5,000 mcg of vitamin B12 every day for 12 weeks reported improved symptoms and sexual satisfaction.
(Note: Vitamin B12 supplements may not be beneficial for all ED. Make sure to discuss with a physician before taking a new supplement, particularly if you have a pre-existing condition or are taking a medication that may interfere with vitamin B12. It is also important to purchase vitamin B12 from a credible source as supplements sometimes contain ingredients that are not listed on the label or they might be of poor quality.
Factors Affecting Vitamin B12 Absorption
There are many factors that can affect the way Vitamin B12 is absorbed and, as a result, how well it helps treat ED symptoms. These factors include:
1. Age
The body’s biological machinery is radically transformed over time. One of them is a decrease in gastric acid. The absorption of vitamin B12 involves gastric acid because the acid helps to draw the vitamin from the food, in which it occurs most abundantly, animal foods. If this stomach acid is reduced, this will result in malabsorption, and this makes the elderly susceptible to Vitamin B12 deficiency. This vitamin deficiency has been associated not only with general malady, but with certain diseases including impotence. The elderly person will therefore require a greater supply of Vitamin B12.
2. Diet
The diet plays a very important role in keeping the body’s Vitamin B12 stores in mind. Animal products, such as fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products, are heavily enriched with this vitamin. But, because of the general dearth of Vitamin B12 in vegetarian diets, vegetarians and vegans are particularly susceptible to deficiencies. If you suffer from ED, this is one area where foods with antioxidants or supplements are warranted. B12 in the diet is essential not just for good health but for sexual enhancement.
3. Gastric Problems
Different diseases and forms of gastric surgery can greatly restrict the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B12. To these disorders, one can add atrophic gastritis or pernicious anemia, in which the lining of the stomach is torn off or the underlying mechanism is destroyed, which prevents the absorption of this necessary vitamin. Also, people who have had abdominal surgery experience problems with B12 uptake. In that sense, such individuals require supplements to keep their Vitamin B12 at a sufficient level, thus providing relief of symptoms that happen when the vitamin is missing, including erectile dysfunction.
4. Drugs
Drugs are another effective way to reduce Vitamin B12 levels. Many drugs affect how the vitamin is absorbed in the body. Examples include proton pump inhibitors, metformin and histamine 2 blockers. The proton pump inhibitors are the most common acid reflux or ulcer drugs that lower the level of stomach acid. This is, as we’ve seen, the key to absorbing B12. Others, like diabetes medications like metformin, can eventually cause a decrease in B12. If someone is taking active medications that could interfere with the absorption of Vitamin B12 and exhibits symptoms of ED, they should consult with the physician. They can give B12 recommendations, monitoring and supplementation when necessary.
Conclusion: What Is The Vitamin B12 Dosage For Erectile Dysfunction?
In short, vitamin B12 has shown promise in treating erectile dysfunction. It will take much more research, though, to understand its role in erectile function. Some studies have shown encouraging results. B12 levels for ED are 1,500-5,000 mcg per day or more, depending on the severity of the condition. Just like all supplements, do your research, and make sure to ask a healthcare professional prior to using it, and get it from a reputable supplement manufacturer.
