Can consuming soft drinks lead to erectile dysfunction (ED)?
It’s possible. Soft drinks, which include sweetened carbonated beverages like soda, are usually high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and calories. Consuming too much of these ingredients can contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, which can then lead to erectile dysfunction (ED).
Metabolic syndrome is actually a group of conditions that include obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Many people with metabolic syndrome eventually develop diabetes.
In 2015, research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that men with metabolic syndrome are 2.6 times more likely to have ED compared to healthy men. And in 2010, a study in the British Medical Journal reported that obese men were two and a half times more likely to have ED than men who were not obese.
In addition, men with diabetes are about four times more likely to develop ED compared to non-diabetic men. They are more likely to start having erection problems at earlier ages, too.
There are many ways the components of metabolic syndrome can lead to ED.
