2. Outline
Introduction
History
Biomechanics
Supported by research
Not supported by research
Summary
Discussion
3. Introduction
Aphrodisiacs: substances which are used to improve
sexual arousal, performance, or satisfaction, and/or to
treat sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction:
Premature, retrograded, retarded or inhibited ejaculation,
Erectile Dysfunction (ED), Arousal difficulties
Compulsive Sexual Behaviour, Orgasmic Disorder, or failure of
Detumescence
4. History
Greek word “Aphrodisia”sexual pleasure
Usage dates back 1000’s of years: China, India, African
countries, Egypt, Rome and Greece
Ancient Rome: Casanova would eat 50 oysters at a time to boost
libido
Ancient Chinese and African cultures: would grind up Spanish
Flies and drink in a solution to enhance libido
Ancient Egyptian cultures: banned women from eating
chocolate to prevent mood stimulating properties
5. Biomechanics
Various effects on arousal, performance,
and/or stimulation
Role in sex hormone production
Smooth muscle (corpus cavernosum)
Role in spermatogenesis, and
quality/functionality of sperm
Psychostimulant effects: stimulate
hypothalamus release serotonin, endorphins,
dopamine, and norepinephrine
6. 1. Oysters
2. Chocolate
3. Saffron
Scientific 4. Horney Goat Weed
Evidence 5. Red Ginseng
supports the 6. Yohimbine
following foods 7. Carnitine
8. Maca Root
9. Muria puama
7. Oysters
Oysters are the most popular aphrodisiac
Extremely high source of organic Zinc (Zn)
6 raw oysters contain 49.8 mg!
RDA 15mg/day
Lower Zn concentration in infertile males
8. Zinc on semen quality
RCT: cattle with Zn supplementation vs placebo
revealed significant improvements in semen
quality:
1. Higher semen volume
2. Higher sperm concentration per ejaculate (also
seen in men, rams, bucks, and rabbits)
3. Improved sperm motility and functionality
4. Higher concentration of testosterone
9. Biological roles of Zinc
1. Increased semen volume
Prostate secretes Zn into semen, therefore, more Zn greater
secretory activity
2. Increased sperm concentration
Zn part of DNA/RNA polymerases role in mitotic and meiotic
cell division, and synthesis of DNA and RNA
Zn metalloenzymes: Sorbitol dehydrogenase and lactate
dehydrogenase key in spermatogenesis
10. Biological Roles of Zinc
3. Improved Sperm motility:
Zn controls ATP utilization by regulating phospholipid reserves and
oxygen uptake for sperm flagella
4. Improved sperm and functionality/livability:
Zn acts as an antioxidant; inhibits phospholipase
Protects sperm from free radical damage and lipid peroxidation
5. Increased testosterone:
Zn stimulates Leydig cells synthesis and secretion
Zn activates adenylyl cyclase system synthesis
Maintenance of seminiferous tubules secretion
11. Chocolate
Increases mood, sexual desire and sexual pleasure
Bioactive constituent - Phenolic flavenols:
Phenylethylamine, catechin, epicatachin, and
procyanidis
Stimulates hypothalamus; inducing pleasure with serotonin
and endorphins
Upregulates Nitric Oxide (NO); role in engorging corpus
callosum
Mimics dopamine and adrenaline: Raises blood pressure,
increase heart rate, and heightened sensations
12. Chocolate
Bioactive Constituent - Unsaturated N-Acetylcholamines
in chocolate:
Activate cannabinoid receptors increased penile sensitivity and
feelings of euphoria
1. 2006 retrospective cohort study; those who regularly
consumed chocolate vs those who did not:
Higher sexual desire scores
No difference in sexual arousal, satisfaction, distress, or
depression
13. Saffron
Research has shown aphrodisiac effects of saffron
1. RCT with 20 ED males given 200mg/day x 10 days:
Improved erectile function, sexual desire, intercourse
satisfaction, and overall satisfaction
2. RCT placebo: women with SSRI-induced sexual
dysfunction on 30 mg saffron/day x 4 wks:
Improved total sexual function, arousal, lubrication, and pain
No improvements in desire, satisfaction, or orgasm
14. Horney Goat Weed
Chinese herb relax cavernosum smooth muscle
Bioactive constituent - flavanol icariin
Improved cardiovascular health and hormone
regulation involved in male erections
Many animal studies:
Increased erectile function and frequency of
ejaculations
15. Red Ginseng
Asian root often consumed in teas physiological and
psychological effects of sexual dysfunction
Bioactive constituent - Gensenodides
1. RCT with 60 men mild-mod ED + 3000mg ginseng/day:
improved erection rigidity, penetration, and maintenance
2. Menopausal women 3000mg/day:
increased arousal frequency, arousal level, and sexual satisfaction
3. RCT on rabbits:
NO relaxation and increased blood flow to penis:
16. Yohimbine
Bark of trees of West Africa tea or pill
Bioactive constituent - a2-adrenoreceptor blocker:
Stimulates CNS, autonomic nervous system smooth
muscle relaxant
1. RCT - ED males 15mg-30mg/day x4-10 weeks:
Minor improvements on ED, mainly with mild ED
Relaxation effects of almost 100% in human corpus callosum
17. Carnitine
Part of amino acid lysine obtained from animal sources
such as red meats, poultry and dairy.
Carnitine is naturally found in spermatozoa:
Lower in sperm infertile men
1. Supplementation with carnitine 1-3g/day x2-6 months
sperm infertile males:
Improved sperm motility, fewer atypical sperm cell, and
higher pregnancy rates
18. Maca Root
Maca is root grown/used in Andes regions fertility and sexual
desire
1. Animal study:
Increased mating frequency, improved erectile function
2. RCT 50 white males with mild ED; 2400mg x 12 weeks:
Improved overall ED, psychological, & physical performance
3. Double-blind RCT with men on 1500 or 3000mg:
Significantly improved sexual desire
19. Muria Puama
Aka potency wood: Brazil as a sexual enhancer
Bio-active constituent: HV-430
1. Rabbits:
Relaxant of corpus cavernosum
2. RCT-placebo in males with ED:
60% increase in libido
50% increase in erection ability
20. 1. Supplements:
Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Co-enzyme Q10,
Not
Lycopene
Supported 2. Phallic symbols or resemblance to
genitals
by Scientific
3. Spanish Fly:
Evidence More toxic than beneficial severe
urinary tract infections
4. Nutmeg:
Only two animal studies:
increased mounting behaviour of male
rats onto female rats
21. • Despite popularity over
millennia, aphrodisiacs
seldom researched
• Always consult physician for
sexual dysfunction
Treatment
Summary • Some evidence exists, but
take with grain of salt
• No single nutrient will act as
a miraculous cure, do your
research!
Substances including food, micronutirents, herbal supplements, or food constituents consumed for the purpose of improving sexual arousal, performance, satisfaction, or for the treatment of sexual dysfunction
Historically consumed to enhance successful procreation/obtaian sexually fulfillinf relationships
For example, zinc is secreted with each male ejaculation, therefore replenishing with high zinc sources such as oysters contribute to good sexual helathB vEach source responsible for different mechanisms that contribute to sexual arousal, performance, and/or stimulationRole in sex hormone production Zinc, possibly B vitaminsSmooth muscle relaxants (ie corpus callosum leading to erection) Zinc and Horney Goat WeedRole in spermatogenesis, and quality/functionality of sperm: ZincPsychostimulant effects: stimulate hypothalamus, can release serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, and norepinephrine Chocolateitamins involved in testosterone production
(2nd highest = 8.9mg in 3 oz of shank beef)Lack of research on oysters, but lots on znStudies show that infertile males have lower Zinc in their semen, therefore, increasing Zinc may be an effective aphrodisiac
Prostate secretes 35-40% of semen volume
Dopamine and adrenaline: autonomic nervous system
Cocoa and chocolate have been reported to exert several effects on human sexuality, acting mainly as an effective aphrodisiac, increasing sexual desire and improving sexual pleasurephenylethylamine, which has been reported to stimulate the hypothalamus, inducing pleasurable sensations as well as affecting the levels of two neurotransmitters – 5-hydroxytrytamine (serotonin) and endorphins in the brain – hence enhancing mood lifting and sexual drive.Participants in Group 1 had significantly higher total (P = 0.002) and desire domain (P = 0.01) FSFI scores than participants in Group 2. No differences between the two groups were observed concerning sexual arousal and satisfaction, sexual distress and depression
This was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Thirty-eight women with major depression who were stabilized on fluoxetine 40 mg/day for a minimum of 6 weeks and had experienced subjective feeling of sexual dysfunction entered the study. The patients were randomly assigned to saffron (30 mg/daily) or placebo for 4 weeks. Measurement was performed at baseline, week 2, and week 4 using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Side effects were systematically recorded.At the end of the fourth week, patients in the saffron group had experienced significantly more improvement in total FSFI (p<0.001), arousal (p = 0.028), lubrication (p = 0.035), and pain (p = 0.016) domains of FSFI but not in desire (p = 0.196), satisfaction (p = 0.206), and orgasm (p = 0.354) domains. Frequency of side effects was similar between the two groups.
Is a alpha2-adrenoreceptor blocker that has been shown in vivo to have effects in the CNS, autonomic nervous system, and penile tissue and vascular smooth muscleRCT confirm ability to treat ED 15mg-30mg.day x4-10 weeks: minor improvements on ED, mainly with mild EDBut yohimbine has been shown to have relaxation effects of almost 100% in human corpus callosum, therefore certainly potential as effective aphrodisiac
Maca:Lepidiummeyenii (Maca) is a cultivated root belonging to the brassica familyused in the Andean region for its supposed aphrodisiac properties. We carriedout a double-blind clinical trial on 50 Caucasian men affected by mild erectiledysfunction (ED), randomised to treatment with Maca dry extract, 2400 mg,or placebo. The treatment effect on ED and subjective well-being was testedadministrating before and after 12 weeks the International Index of ErectileFunction (IIEF-5) and the Satisfaction Profile (SAT-P). After 12 weeks of treatment, both Maca- and placebo-treated patients experienced a significantincrease in IIEF-5 score (P < 0.05 for both). However, patients taking Macaexperienced a more significant increase than those taking placebo (1.6 ± 1.1versus 0.5 ± 0.6, P < 0.001). Both Maca- and placebo-treated subjects experienced a significant improvement in psychological performance-related SAT-Pscore, but the Maca group higher than that of placebo group (+9 ± 6 versus+6 ± 5, P < 0.05). However, only Maca-treated patients experienced a signifi-cant improvement in physical and social performance-related SAT-P scorecompared with the baseline (+7 ± 6 and +7 ± 6, both P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data support a small but significant effect of Maca supplementationon subjective perception of general and sexual well-being in adult patients withmild ED.
