effect of oral supplementation of l-arginine on sexual function in men with type 2 diabetes: a double-blind clinical trial

Background: sexual dysfunction is an important health problem which prevalence in patients with type 2 diabetes (t2d) is higher than other people. the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of l-arginine oral supplementation on sexual function in men with t2d and mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction (ed). methods: eighty men with t2d, suffering from mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction participated in this double-blind clinical trial. they were randomly assigned in to two groups; receiving 5 g/day l-arginine (ag) or placebo group (pg) for 4 weeks. sexual functions were recorded with international index of erectile function questionnaire at the beginning and endof the intervention. total testosterone concentrations were measured too. results: the total mean score of sexual function parameters significantly increased only in ag than pg (43.2 ± 6.2 vs. 39.4 ± 4.0, p = 0.003). against pg, the mean of all parameters significantly improved in ag after intervention. only the mean score of erectile function in ag had a significant increase compared to pg. mean of other sexual activity scores between the two groups had no significant differences. the mean of testosterone concentration had a significant increase in both groups after the intervention, but the mean of changes was significantly higher in ag than in pg (1.91 μg/l vs. 0.53 μg/l, p = 0.004). conclusions: the present trial showed that daily consumption of 5 g l-arginine for four weeks in t2d men with mild-to-moderate sexual dysfunction improved various parameters such as erectile function, sexual satisfaction, sexual desire, pleasure from sexual intercourse, and testosterone level.