IF YOU GO to a convenience store and see a product behind the counter with a name like "Boner Blaster 5,000," it's a surefire way to know a supplement is not legit. But not all scams are that obvious. That’s because the supplements made of “herbal Viagra” or other natural ingredients don’t always work.
When it comes to supplements, it’s not clear what you could be putting in your body. There's always the chance it could harm your overall health—and make any erectile dysfunction problem worse. So Men’s Health turned to the experts to get the lowdown on which supplements boost sex drive and/or help with ED.
They narrowed it down to five options. NATHAN STARKE, MD, urologist at Houston Urologist, says his patients ask him about supplements “all the time.” While supplements are usually safe for most people, he urges caution when choosing one. If you’re looking for an extra boost, consider the following expert-backed options: L-arginine is an essential amino acid that may benefit both heart health and erectile function, says Dr.
One study in the journal Andrology found that patients with severe or complete erectile dysfunction had L-arginine levels that were significantly lower than those of men with milder forms of ED. In guys with mild-to-moderate ED, three months of L-arginine supplementation significantly increased the speed of blood flow to the penis and improved erectile function. One caveat was that L-arginine supplements alone were not as effective in guys with severe ED.
However, L-arginine effects may work better when paired with ED medications. An 8-week trial had men ages 50 and older take L-arginine supplements with sildenafil (Viagra) or sildenafil every other day. Those results showed greater erectile function in guys taking the combo treatment than sildenafil alone.
L-arginine is broken down by the body into nitric oxide, a smooth muscle relaxer that allows for more blood flow to the penis, which is important for erections. (Drugs including Cialis and Viagra block the breakdown of nitric oxide in the body, so there are higher circulating levels to help with erections.) L-arginine is found in most protein-rich foods such as red meat, poultry, beans, and dairy products. The Mayo Clinic marks L-arginine generally safe but cautions people who take blood pressure meds to talk to a doctor first. This is good advice for any supplements if you’re on blood pressure medications, Dr.
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