Mediterranean Diet and Sexual Health

Miriam Longo, Paola Caruso, Katherine Esposito

Abstract


Sexual health is a fundamental component of human well-being. Any disease threating human well-being may also impair both male and female sexual life. The most common “non-communicable diseases” (NCDs) in the world are strictly associated with sexual dysfunctions as they share most risk factors and pathogenetic mechanisms. Chronic low-grade inflammation, together with oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, represents a common predisposing pathological condition for both chronic diseases and sexual dysfunctions. Mediterranean diet, based on high intake of plant-based foods, olive oil as the main source of fat, low-to-moderate intake of fish, dairy products, and poultry, low consumption of red or processed meat, and low to- moderate consumption of wine with meals has showed several beneficial effects on cardio-metabolic and sexual health. The adoption of healthy lifestyles, including Mediterranean dietary pattern and regular physical activity helps reducing inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress – all of which are desirable target to achieve for a better health and sexual life.

Keywords


Mediterranean Diet, healthy lifestyle, sexual life, sexual dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction

Full Text:

PDF

References


1.https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-health#tab=tab_2

2. Jannini, E.A. (2017). SM = SM: The Interface of Systems Medicine and Sexual Medicine for Facing Non-Communicable Diseases in a Gender-Dependent Manner. Sex Med Rev. 5(3), 349-364. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.04.002

3. World health statistics 2020: monitoring health for the SDGs, sustainable development goals. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.

4. Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Giugliano, D., Esposito, K. (2018). From inflammation to sexual dysfunctions: a journey through diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. J Endocrinol Invest. 41(11), 1249-1258. doi:10.1007/s40618-018-0872-6

5. Laumann, E.O., Paik, A., Rosen, R.C. (1999). Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA. 281, 537-544. doi: 10.1001/jama.281.6.537

6. NIH Consensus Conference. (1993). Impotence. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Impotence. JAMA. 270(1), 83–90. doi:10.1001/jama.1993.03510010089036

7. Basson R, Berman J, Burnett A, Derogatis, L., Ferguson, D., Fourcroy, J., Goldstein, I., Graziottin, A., Heiman, J., Laan, A., Leiblum, S., Padma-Nathan, H., Rosen, R., Segraves, K., Segraves, R.T., Shabsigh, R., Sipski, M., Wagner, G., Whipple, B. (2000). Report of the international consensus development conference on female sexual dysfunction: definitions and classifications. J Urol. 163(3), 888–893. doi: 10.1097/00005392-200003000-00043

8. McCabe, M.P., Sharlip, I.D., Lewis, R., Atalla, E., Balon, R., Fisher, A.D., Laumann, E., Won Lee, S., Segraves, R.T. (2016). Incidence and Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Women and Men: A Consensus Statement from the Fourth International Consultation on Sexual Medicine 2015. J Sex Med. 13(2), 144-152. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2015.12.034

9. Gazzaruso, C., Solerte, S.B., Pujia, A., Coppola, A., Vezzoli, M., Salvucci, F., Valenti, C., Giustina, A., Garzaniti, A. (2008). Erectile dysfunction as a predictor of cardiovascular events and death in diabetic patients with angiographically proven asymptomatic coronary artery disease: a potential protective role for statins and 5-phosphodiesterase inhibitors. J Am Coll Cardiol. 51(21), 2040-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2007.10.069.

10. Miner, M., Esposito, K., Guay, A., Montorsi, P., Goldstein, I. (2012). Cardiometabolic risk and female sexual health: the Princeton III summary. J Sex Med. 9(3), 641-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02649.x.

11. Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Esposito, K. (2014). Diabetes and sexual dysfunction: current perspectives. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 7, 95-105. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S36455

12. Towe, M., La, J., El-Khatib, F., Roberts, N., Yafi, F.A., Rubin, R. (2020). Diet and Female Sexual Health. Sex Med Rev. 8(2), 256-264. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.08.004

13. Esposito, K., Ciotola, M., Giugliano, F., Schisano, B., Autorino, R., Iuliano, S., Vietri, M.T., Cioffi, M., De Sio, M., Giugliano, D. (2007). Mediterranean diet improves sexual function in women with the metabolic syndrome. Int J Impot Res. 19(5), 486-91. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901555.

14. Giugliano, F., Maiorino, M.I., Di Palo, C., Autorino, R., De Sio, M., Giugliano, D., Esposito, K. (2010). Adherence to Mediterranean diet and sexual function in women with type 2 diabetes. J Sex Med. 7(5), 1883-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01714.x.

15. Wing, R.R., Bond, D.S., Gendrano, I.N., Wadden, T., Bahnson, J., Lewis, C.E., Brancati, F., Schneider, S., Kitabchi, E.A., Van Dorsten, B., Rosen, R.C., Sexual Dysfunction Subgroup of the Look AHEAD Research Group. (2013). Effect of intensive lifestyle intervention on sexual dysfunction in women with type 2 diabetes: results from an ancillary Look AHEAD study. Diabetes Care. 36(10), 2937-2944. doi:10.2337/dc13-0315

16. Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Chiodini, P., Romano, O., Scappaticcio, L, Giugliano, D., Esposito, K. (2016). Primary Prevention of Sexual Dysfunction With Mediterranean Diet in Type 2 Diabetes: The MÈDITA Randomized Trial. Diabetes Care. 39(9), e143-e144. doi:10.2337/dc16-0910

17. Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Caputo, M., Castaldo, F., Improta, M.R., Giugliano, D., Esposito, K. (2016). Effects of Mediterranean diet on sexual function in people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: the MÈDITA trial. J Diabetes Complications. 30(8), 1519-1524. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2016.08.007.

18. Lewis, R.W., Fugl-Meyer, K.S., Corona, G., Hayes, R.D., Laumann, E. O., Moreira Jr, E.D., Rellini, A. H., Segraves, T. (2010). Definitions/epidemiology/risk factors for sexual dysfunction. J Sex Med. 7(4), 1598–1607. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01778.x.

19. Shamloul, R., Ghanem, H. (2013). Erectile dysfunction. Lancet. 381(9861), 153-165. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60520-0.

20. Meldrum, D.R., Gambone, J.C., Morris, M.A., Meldrum, D.A., Esposito, K., Ignarro, L.J. (2011). The link between erectile and cardiovascular health: the canary in the coal mine. Am J Cardiol. 108(4), 599–606. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2011.03.093.

21. La, J., Roberts, N.H., Yafi, F.A. (2018). Diet and Men's Sexual Health. Sex Med Rev. 6(1), 54-68. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.07.004

22. Giugliano, F., Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Autorino, R., De Sio, M., Giugliano, D., Esposito, K. (2010). Adherence to Mediterranean diet and erectile dysfunction in men with type 2 diabetes. J Sex Med. 7(5), 1911-1917. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.01713.x

23. Wang, F., Dai, S., Wang, M., Morrison, H. (2013). Erectile dysfunction and fruit/vegetable consumption among diabetic Canadian men. Urology. 82(6), 1330-1335. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2013.07.061

24. Ramírez, R., Pedro-Botet, J., García, M., Corbella, E., Merino, J., Zambón, D., Corbella, X., Pintó, X., Xarxa de Unitats de Lípids i Arteriosclerosi (XULA) Investigators Group. (2016). Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors in a Mediterranean diet cohort. Intern Med J. 46(1), 52-56. doi:10.1111/imj.12937

25. Chen, Y., Yu, W., Zhou, L., Wu, S., Yang, Y., Wang, J., Tian, J., He, D., Xu, Y., Huang, J., Wang, X., Gao, X., Li, H., Ma, L., Zhang, N., Zhao, N., Jin, X. (2016). Relationship among diet habit and lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual function in outpatient-based males with LUTS/BPH: a multiregional and cross-sectional study in China. BMJ Open. 6(8), e010863. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010863

26. Esposito, K., Giugliano, F., Di Palo, C., Esposito, K., Giugliano, F., Di Palo, C., Giugliano, G., Marfella, R., D'Andrea, R, D'Armiento, M., Giugliano, D. (2004). Effect of lifestyle changes on erectile dysfunction in obese men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 291(24), 2978-2984. doi:10.1001/jama.291.24.2978

27. Esposito, K., Ciotola, M., Giugliano, F., De Sio, M., Giugliano, G., D'armiento, M. Giugliano, D. (2006). Mediterranean diet improves erectile function in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Int J Impot Res. 18(4), 405-410. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3901447

28. Esposito, K., Ciotola, M., Giugliano, F., Maiorino, M.I, Autorino, R., De Sio, M., Giugliano, G., Nicoletti, G., D'Andrea, F., Giugliano, D. (2009). Effects of intensive lifestyle changes on erectile dysfunction in men. J Sex Med. 2009;6:243-250. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.01030.x.

29. Wing, R.R., Rosen, R.C., Fava, J.L., Bahnson, J., Brancati, F., Gendrano Iii, I., N. C., Kitabchi, A., Schneider, S.H., Wadden, T.A. (2010). Effects of weight loss intervention on erectile function in older men with type 2 diabetes in the Look AHEAD trial. J Sex Med. 7(1), 156-165. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2009.01458.x

30. Gaskins, A.J., Colaci, D.S., Mendiola, J., Swan, S.H., Chavarro, J.E. (2012). Dietary patterns and semen quality in young men. Hum Reprod. 27(10), 2899-2907. doi:10.1093/humrep/des298

31. Eslamian, G., Amirjannati, N., Rashidkhani, B., Sadeghi, M.R., Hekmatdoost, A. (2012). Intake of food groups and idiopathic asthenozoospermia: a case-control study. Hum Reprod. 27(11), 3328-3336. doi:10.1093/humrep/des311

32. Health Effects Institute. 2019. State of Global Air 2019. Special Report. Boston, MA:Health Effects Institute.

33. Hu, F.B. (2002). Dietary pattern analysis: a new direction in nutritional epidemiology. Curr Opin Lipidol. 13(1), 3-9. doi: 10.1097/00041433-200202000-00002.

34. Heidemann, C., Schulze, M.B., Franco, O.H., van Dam, R.M., Mantzoros, C.S., Hu, F.B. (2008). Dietary patterns and risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all causes in a prospective cohort of women. Circulation. 118(3), 230-237. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.771881

35. Odermatt, A. (2011). The Western-style diet: a major risk factor for impaired kidney function and chronic kidney disease. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 301(5), F919-F931. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00068.2011.

36. Sherzai, A., Heim, L.T., Boothby, C., Sherzai, A.D. (2012). Stroke, food groups, and dietary patterns: a systematic review. Nutr Rev. 70(8), 423-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00490.x.

37. Esposito, K., Marfella, R., Ciotola, M., Di Palo, C., Giugliano, F., Giugliano, G., D'Armiento, M., D'Andrea, F., Giugliano, D. (2004). Effect of a mediterranean-style diet on endothelial dysfunction and markers of vascular inflammation in the metabolic syndrome: a randomized trial. JAMA. 292(12), 1440-1446. doi:10.1001/jama.292.12.1440

38. Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Petrizzo, M., Scappaticcio, L., Giugliano, D., Esposito, K. (2016). Anti-inflammatory Effect of Mediterranean Diet in Type 2 Diabetes Is Durable: 8-Year Follow-up of a Controlled Trial. Diabetes Care. 39(3), e44-5. doi: 10.2337/dc15-2356.

39. Maiorino, M.I., Bellastella, G., Petrizzo, M., Scappaticcio, L., Giugliano, D., Esposito, K. (2016). Mediterranean diet cools down the inflammatory milieu in type 2 diabetes: the MÉDITA randomized controlled trial. Endocrine. 54(3), 634-641. doi: 10.1007/s12020-016-0881-1.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.6092/1828-6550/APMB.108.2.2020.SD2

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2020 Miriam Longo, Paola Caruso, Katherine Esposito

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.