From the Research
Relationship Between Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Erectile Dysfunction
- There is evidence suggesting a significant association between NAFLD and erectile dysfunction, as demonstrated in a prospective pilot study published in 2016 1.
- The study found that patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD had a higher prevalence of erectile dysfunction, with 27.5% experiencing moderate erectile dysfunction and 40% experiencing mild erectile dysfunction.
- A review of current literature published in 2020 also supports the link between NAFLD and male sexual problems, including erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and infertility 2.
- A cross-sectional study published in 2024 found a positive correlation between the U.S. Fatty Liver Index (USFLI) and erectile dysfunction in the adult American population, suggesting that NAFLD may be an independent risk factor for erectile dysfunction 3.
- Another study published in 2021 found that patients with NAFLD had a 2.92 times higher risk of erectile dysfunction compared to those without NAFLD, and that NAFLD was a significantly independent associated factor with erectile dysfunction 4.
- A prospective, hospital-based study published in 2017 estimated the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in patients with NAFLD to be 45.8%, and found that age ≥40 years, insulin resistance, and low serum testosterone were independent predictors of erectile dysfunction 5.
Key Findings
- NAFLD is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction 1, 3, 4, 5.
- Insulin resistance and low serum testosterone are contributing factors to the development of erectile dysfunction in patients with NAFLD 1, 5.
- The severity of histological hepatic damage is significantly higher in patients with erectile dysfunction compared to those without erectile dysfunction 1.
- Metabolic syndrome is more common in patients with erectile dysfunction compared to those without erectile dysfunction 1.