Relationship Between Nutrition and Sexual Activity

Sexuality is integral to personality, influencing feelings, thoughts, actions, and physical and mental health. Female sexual dysfunction is a fairly common condition that covers four main areas: hypoactive sexual desire disorder, arousal disorder, orgasmic disorder, and sexual pain disorder. Although incidence and prevalence rates vary, it has been reported that women range between 30% and 50%.

Male sexual dysfunction is not a single disease. Male sexual arousal refers to the entire process of sexual activity for men, including penile erection, penile penetration, ejaculation, and any obstruction in a single connection. It is a significant psychological distress for affected men, their sexual partners, and their health-related quality of life. Sexual dysfunctions are common among men of all ages and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. It is reported in the literature that 52% of men between the ages of 40-70 experience various degrees of sexual dysfunction.

Cardiovascular disease, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome are risk factors for sexual dysfunction. Although the positive effects of adopting healthy lifestyle changes and dietary habits in reducing the risks of these diseases have been proven, few studies have evaluated the impact of these treatment approaches on sexual dysfunction.

Studies evaluating the relationship between diet and erectile dysfunction have focused more on men with diabetes. Some small studies have also shown that lifestyle modification and weight loss interventions improve erectile dysfunction in men with significant cardiovascular risks. The same is valid for female sexual dysfunction. The Western diet and its components are indirectly associated with sexual morbidity. The Western diet has processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and high sodium and monounsaturated fat content, which have been widely linked to the development of MetS, obesity, and diabetes. These comorbidities are also risk factors for female sexual dysfunction as well.

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the eating habits of obese and non-obese men and women and their sexual functions.

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Key information

Conditions

Sexual Dysfunction Aphrodisiac Foods Body Weight Genital Diseases Healthy Eating Index Mediterranean Diet Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological Signs and Symptoms Urogenital Diseases

Age range

18 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Female patients with menstrual bleeding
Sexually active male and female patients
18 years and older age

Exclusion criteria

<18 years of age
Female patients with menopause
Female patients that have undergone hormone therapy in the last 12 months
Sexually inactive male and female patients
Patients with diabetes
Patients with a history of psychiatric illness
Patients with cognitive impairment
Patients with hormone-dependent tumors
Patients taking a drug known to reduce sexual desire

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Sexual function in obese women [ Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months]

Time frame: Based on The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire

A domain score of zero indicates that the subject reported having no sexual activity during the past month Desire: Score Range 1-5; Min-Max score 1.2-6.0 Arousal: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0 Lubrication: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0 Orgasm: Score Range 0 (or 1)-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0 Satisfaction: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0.8-6.0 Pain: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0
Sexual function in non-obese women [ Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months]

Time frame: Based on The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire

A domain score of zero indicates that the subject reported having no sexual activity during the past month Desire: Score Range 1-5; Min-Max score 1.2-6.0 Arousal: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0 Lubrication: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0 Orgasm: Score Range 0 (or 1)-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0 Satisfaction: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0.8-6.0 Pain: Score Range 0-5; Min-Max score 0-6.0
Sexual function in obese men [ Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months]

Time frame: Based on International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire

The possible scores for the IIEF-5 range from 5 to 25, and ED was classified into five categories based on the scores: severe (5-7), moderate (8-11), mild to moderate (12-16), mild (17-21), and no ED (22-25).
Sexual function in non-obese men [ Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months]

Time frame: Based on International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire

The possible scores for the IIEF-5 range from 5 to 25, and ED was classified into five categories based on the scores: severe (5-7), moderate (8-11), mild to moderate (12-16), mild (17-21), and no ED (22-25).
Evaluation of which nutrients the participants consume weekly [ Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months]

Time frame: Based on Mediterranean Diet Assessment Tool

Mediterranean Diet Assessment Scale; It is a questionnaire consisting of 14 questions, including the type of essential oil used by the patients in meals, the amount of olive oil consumed daily, fruit and vegetable portions, margarine-butter and red meat consumption, weekly consumption of wine, pulses, fish-seafood, snacks, nuts, cake, olive oil tomato sauce consumption and whether white meat is preferred more than red meat. 1 or 0 points are taken for each question asked according to the amount of consumption, and the total score is calculated. A score of 7 and above indicates that the individual has an acceptable degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet. A score of 9 and above shows that the individual strictly follows the Mediterranean diet.
Evaluation of which nutrients the participants consume weekly [ Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months]

Time frame: Based on Alternative Healthy Eating Index

The AHEI grades the diet, assigning a score ranging from 0 (nonadherence) to 110 (perfect adherence), based on how often eat certain healthy and unhealthy foods.

For example, someone who reports eating no daily vegetables would score a zero, while someone who ate five or more servings a day would earn a 10. For an unhealthy option, such as sugar-sweetened drinks or fruit juice, scoring is reversed: a person who eats one or more servings would score a zero, and zero servings would earn a 10.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effects of Nutritional Characteristics of Obese Men and Women on Their Sexual Functions.

Important dates

Study start: 2015
Primary completion: 2015
Study completion: 2015
First posted: Nov 30, 2022
Registry last updated: Nov 30, 2022

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed