A new study, published in Andrologia, has found that a combination of tadalafil and L-arginine improved the levels of total testosterone in older men with erectile dysfunction (ED).
The study evaluated the efficacy of the daily oral administrations of tadalafil, L‐arginine, and a combination of both tadalafil and L‐arginine in treatments of elderly patients with ED.
ED is a male sexual condition characterized by the inability to attain or sustain an erection hard enough for sex. Worldwide, millions of men suffer from ED, with oral treatments include sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), avanafil (Stendra), tadalafil (Cialis), among others.
The study, conducted on 120 male patients aged 60 and above with ED, was designed as a single‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial.
The participants were divided into four groups, with 30 in each group.
One group received a daily dose of L‐arginine 5 g, while the other groups received tadalafil 5 mg, a combination of tadalafil 5 mg and L‐arginine 5 g, and a placebo for six weeks.
The study researchers assessed the patients before and after treatments using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire and total serum testosterone levels.
The investigators found that the total scores of SHIM and total testosterone were significantly higher in patients who received tadalafil, L‐arginine, and combined tadalafil with L‐arginine.
It was found that the group who received the combination of tadalafil and L‐arginine had the highest SHIM scores and total testosterone levels.
The findings of the study suggest that the daily use of tadalafil and L‐arginine for older patients with ED could significantly increase the SHIM scores and testosterone levels when compared to the groups who received only L‐arginine or only tadalafil.
The exact mechanism of the improvement of SHIM scores and testosterone levels by the combination of tadalafil and L-arginine is unknown.
However, it has previously been reported that L-arginine supplementation improves erectile function, enhancing confidence in sexual activities. Besides, L-arginine is often advised to patients with low T levels. Improved confidence and erectile function could mean that the testicular Leydig cells help improve the secretion of testosterone.
