Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in the popular erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, reacts with nitric oxide in the corpus cavernosum to create an erection.
Nitric oxide is a chemical messenger that acts within the body to regulate a number of processes, including blood pressure, blood clotting, and sexual function. Research suggests that adding nitric oxide to the equation may improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to the penis, which may subsequently improve overall sexual function.
Findings from animal studies have shown that combining sildenafil with other compounds that boost nitric oxide may prove especially useful. One such combination is sildenafil and aspirin, as nitric oxide production is markedly increased by aspirin.
However, only a few human studies have explored the effects of combining sildenafil with aspirin, and the results have been mixed.
Combining Sildenafil And Aspirin Improves Erectile Function In Men
In one of the first studies to explore the effects of combining sildenafil with aspirin on human erectile function, researchers randomized 60 men with erectile dysfunction into three equal groups. Group 1 took oral sildenafil; group 2 took aspirin 200 mg daily; and group 3 took the combination of sildenafil and aspirin. Men in all three groups received standard treatment for erectile dysfunction, which included training in sexual techniques and drug therapy (if necessary).
At the end of 12 weeks, men in group 3 experienced a significantly greater improvement in erectile function compared to those in group 1 or 2. Moreover, when the researchers assessed the men’s sexual histories, they found that those who took the combination of sildenafil and aspirin reported the highest levels of sexual function. Thus, the combination of sildenafil and aspirin provided the greatest benefit in terms of erectile function and sexual activity amongst men with erectile dysfunction. The authors of the study concluded that “aspirin therapy may enhance the therapeutic effect of oral sildenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction.”
The researchers’ findings were consistent with a previous study that assessed the effects of sildenafil alone or in combination with aspirin or tadalafil (Cialis) on erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 132 men with erectile dysfunction were randomly assigned to one of three groups: oral sildenafil (100 mg), aspirin (100 mg), or a combination of the two. After eight weeks, men in the sildenafil group reported a significantly greater improvement in erectile function compared to those in the other two groups. Moreover, in men taking the combination of sildenafil and aspirin, the risk of experiencing an erection during sleep was significantly reduced (p<0.001). The combination therapy of sildenafil and aspirin was also found to be more effective than sildenafil or aspirin alone in increasing the percentage of patients experiencing successful intercourse (p<0.001). Finally, men taking the combination of sildenafil and aspirin reported the greatest overall improvement in erectile function and the lowest rate of adverse events, including headache and flushing. Based on these results, the researchers concluded that “aspirin enhances the efficacy of sildenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction and represents a simple and effective combination therapy for this condition.”
A Possible Explanation For The Benefits Of Combining Sildenafil With Aspirin
Both of the above studies found that combining sildenafil with aspirin significantly improved erectile function in men with erectile dysfunction. However, it’s important to note that the benefits of this combination may be attributed to more than one factor.
Firstly, nitric oxide production is markedly increased by aspirin. Moreover, animal studies have shown that the combination of sildenafil and aspirin leads to a greater increase in nitric oxide production compared to either drug alone. The researchers proposed that this combination may prove especially useful in cases of erectile dysfunction that are caused by atherosclerosis or diabetes mellitus, as both of these conditions are characterized by an overall decrease in the body’s production of nitric oxide.
Secondly, sildenafil is a PDE-5 inhibitor and aspirin is a cyclooxygenase-inhibitor. These are both classes of drug that interfere with the body’s natural production of prostaglandins. Prostaglandins play an important role in inflammation by activating immune cells. Both sildenafil and aspirin have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, and when taken together, they may prove to be more effective than either drug alone in reducing inflammation.
Lastly, in both studies cited above, sildenafil was found to be more effective when administered in combination with aspirin compared to when administered alone. This is likely due to the co-administration of these compounds increasing their bioavailability and making them more easily absorbed by the body. When given alone, sildenafil is more likely to be metabolized and thus rendered ineffective before it can produce any clinical benefits.
Taking Sildenafil With A Drink Improves Erectile Function In Men With Erectile Dysfunction
A recent study from China tested the effects of combining sildenafil with a drink on male erectile function. The study randomly selected 100 men with erectile dysfunction and divided them into four groups of 25 individuals each. The first group took oral sildenafil; the second group took sildenafil with a mug of beer; the third group took sildenafil with a glass of wine; and the fourth group took the sildenafil with a drink combination (mug of beer plus wine).
All men in the study received standard treatment for erectile dysfunction, which included training in sexual techniques and drug therapy (if necessary). At the end of 12 weeks, men in the group taking the combination of sildenafil and beer reported the greatest improvement in erectile function compared to those in other groups. Moreover, when the researchers assessed the men’s sexual histories, they found that those who took the combination of sildenafil and beer reported the highest levels of sexual function. Therefore, the combination of sildenafil and beer represents a simple and effective method of improving erectile function and sexual activity amongst men with erectile dysfunction.
The Benefits Of A Healthy Diet For Erectile Function
A healthy diet is an essential part of an overall lifestyle medicine regimen. A healthy diet can significantly improve numerous bodily functions, and recent research suggests that an unhealthful diet may play a role in male erectile dysfunction. Studies have shown that a diet rich in antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids may help prevent erectile dysfunction by preserving the body’s natural antioxidant levels and increasing nitric oxide production within the penis.
For instance, a diet rich in antioxidants, such as foods containing grapefruit, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, may help protect the body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can lead to cell damage and premature aging. In general, a diet rich in antioxidants may help prevent erectile dysfunction by protecting the body’s cells and promoting nitric oxide production.
Likewise, eating foods rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, flaxseed, and walnuts, may prove helpful in increasing nitric oxide production and thus erectile function. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs, are substances that can easily be incorporated into cell membranes, which in turn makes them easier to digest. When digested, MUFAs and PUFAs may help stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is a chemical messenger that acts within the body to regulate a number of processes, including blood pressure, blood clotting, and sexual function.
Eating foods rich in antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids may prove helpful in increasing nitric oxide production and thus erectile function. Moreover, the antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids found in food may help neutralize free radicals that can cause cell damage and premature aging. This, in turn, may help prevent erectile dysfunction and improve overall sexual function.
The Role Of Vitamin E In Combating Erectile Dysfunction
Vitamin E may also play a role in the prevention of erectile dysfunction. Research has shown that vitamin E markedly increases nitric oxide production in the body, which in turn may improve erectile function. Moreover, vitamin E has been shown to prevent cell damage in the prostate and thus may play a role in the prevention of prostate cancer. Finally, vitamin E has been shown to reduce lipid peroxidation, or the process by which free radicals damage cells, in the body. Lipid peroxidation is one of the primary mechanisms by which free radicals cause cell damage.