AB156. Homocysteine and vitamin B₁₂: risk factors for erectile dysfunction

Background: Increasing levels of homocysteine (Hcy) is associated with cardiovascular disease, and erectile dysfunction (ED) has close relation with cardiovascular disease, therefore, high homocysteine may be one of the risk factors of ED. During the metabolism of homocysteine, vitamin B₁₂ plays an important role and could be the main factor in causing erectile dysfunction as well.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between Hcy, vitamin B₁₂ and ED in sample.

Methods: The study included 1,457 men aged 20-69 who participated in a series of physical examination at the Medical Centre in Fangchenggang First People’s Hospital from September 2009 to December 2009. ED was identified by the five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. All participants were measured for plasma Hcy, vitamin B₁₂, folic acid, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Smoking, alcoholic drinking and physical activity were collected by face to face communication.

Results: A total of 691 (47.4%) men were identified as ED in this study, participants with ED were older or more likely to drink alcohol than the non-ED. It was higher Hcy (P=0.032), vitamin B₁₂ (P=0.008) and fasting plasma glucose (P=0.014) in the participants with ED. There were significant positive correlation between ED status (none, mile, moderate and severe) and Hcy (P=0.024), vitamin B₁₂ (P=0.015) and fasting plasma glucose (P=0.002). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, Hcy and vitamin B₁₂ were the main determinants in ED. Hcy was positively associated with ED in the men more than 45, but vitamin B₁₂ was positively related with ED in the men less than 45.

Conclusions: Hcy was positively associated with ED in elder, however, vitamin B₁₂ was positively related with ED in younger.

Keywords: Homocysteine (Hcy); erectile dysfunction (ED); vitamin B₁₂; cardiovascular disease