Men, it’s football season, and it’s time to up your game. But don’t fall for the cheap off-patent Viagra and Cialis tablets out there, at least not just yet.
Sexual health can promote mental health, but only if it is accomplished through nutritious diet, exercise and relaxation techniques. Several supplements may help, especially those that work with internal pathways that affect the ability to attain and maintain an erection.
A study presented earlier this year at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, stressed that metabolic health factors, including small increases in blood sugar, are the main drivers of change in the reproductive systems and sexual functioning of aging men.
Many aging men are experiencing a slow rise in blood sugar levels. This new research has found that subtle increases in metabolic markers like glucose exert more influence on reduced sexual performance than age-related decreases in testosterone levels. The findings, based on a 6-year study of healthy men aged 18 to 85, show that even below-diabetes-level sugar changes can impair sperm mobility and erectile function.
“Although age and testosterone levels have long been considered an impetus for men’s declining sexual health, our research indicates that these changes more closely correlate with modest increases in blood sugar and other metabolic changes,” said Michael Zitzmann, M.D., Ph.D., professor and doctor of medicine at University Hospital in Muenster, Germany. “This means that men can take steps to preserve or revive their reproductive health with lifestyle choices and appropriate medical interventions.”
These conclusions follow a long-term study of healthy men (without diabetes mellitus, heart disease and/or cancer) that began in 2014 with 200 participants and concluded in 2020 with 117 participants. Researchers studied progressive changes in participants’ semen and hormonal profiles, erectile functioning and metabolic health (BMI and blood sugar levels marked by the HbA1c test).
Findings indicated that over time hormone levels and semen parameters stayed largely within normal ranges. However, sperm movement and erectile function declined in men with minimally elevated blood sugar levels that were below the 6.5% HbA1c diabetes threshold. The study also found that while testosterone levels did not have a direct impact on erectile function, they did correlate with participants’ libido assessment.
“We’re hopeful that the information gleaned from this study will help doctors and their patients formulate effective male sexual health maintenance plans,” Zitzmann added. “We now know that it’s in our power to retain sexual and reproductive well-being in men, even as they age.”
This research was conducted as part of the FAME 2.0 study.
At HP Ingredients, we recommend formulating men’s sexual health supplements with three of our signature ingredients.
- LJ100
- N.O.Max
- Bergamonte®
