Weight loss may improve sexual health of obese men with diabetes
Khoo J. J Sex Med.
2011;doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02417.x.
Significant diet-induced weight loss may lead to better
erectile function, enhanced sexual desire and fewer lower urinary tract
symptoms in obese men with type 2 diabetes, new data suggest.
“Our findings are consistent with the evidence that
not only erectile function, but also lower urinary tract symptoms are a marker
of cardiometabolic risk,” Gary Wittert, MD, of the University of
Adelaide, Australia, said in a press release. “The evidence that
improvement can be achieved by modest weight loss, in particular when a diet is
of high nutritional quality, is of public health significance in framing public
health messages that resonate with men.”
To examine weight loss as an intervention, Wittert and
colleagues randomly assigned 31 abdominally obese men with type 2 diabetes
(mean age, 59.7 years) to one of two interventions: a meal replacement-based,
low-calorie diet or a low-fat, high-protein, reduced-carbohydrate diet designed
to decrease daily caloric intake by about 600 kcal. Participants followed their
respective diets for 8 weeks before all were switched to the high-protein diet
for the next 44 weeks.
After 8 weeks, the low-calorie diet group experienced an
approximately 10% decrease and the high-protein diet group experienced a
slightly smaller but still significant 5% decrease in body weight and waist
circumference. Sexual and urinary function appeared to improve, with
researchers noting better International Index of Erectile Function scores,
Sexual Desire Inventory scores and International Prostate Symptom Scale scores
in both groups. These outcomes improved further at 52 weeks, the researchers
said, and changes in weight and waist circumference were sustained.
Better plasma glucose, LDL and sex hormone-binding
globulin levels were also reported. Similarly, increased brachial flow-mediated
dilatation and decreased soluble E-selectin indicated enhanced endothelial
function after this period in both groups. However, inflammatory markers such
as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 only improved in the high-protein diet
group, the researchers said.
Disclosure: Dr. Wittert reports receiving consulting fees from
Pharmacy Health Solutions. One researcher also reports developing and
publishing several books about the high-protein diet. The other researchers
report no relevant financial disclosures.