Zinc Deficiency Lowers Libido Levels in Men

Men associate sexual performance with masculinity in the same way as women associate beauty with femininity. Sexual performance depends on how much drive a man has. Drive also called as Libido in scientific terms, determines a man’s overall outlook towards life. A healthy libido is a result of good physical health, high self-confidence and cordial marital relationship. However, at times, there are certain nutritional deficiencies in one’s diet that are causing a decrease in libido levels.

Zinc is one such micronutrient. Zinc is a mineral that is required in only a trace amount in the body but the consequences due to its deficiency are huge. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of zinc in adult men is 11 mg. As per studies, zinc deficiency is linked to delayed sexual maturation, hypogonadism and impotence in men. So, males should be encouraged to have sufficient sources of zinc in their diet during their growing years.

Zinc deficiency is also implicated in poor blood circulation to the male sexual organs and in the decreased production of testosterone. Poor blood circulation is a major cause of Erectile Dysfunction or ED. ED is the prime performance nightmare in men. ED occurs due to lack of sufficient blood flow to the penis, the male sexual organ responsible for the act. Poor blood flow hampers its ability to have sustained erections, which are necessary for conception of the female and a satisfactory performance.

Testosterone is directly linked to libido. A man with low testosterone levels is bound not to get motivated to perform sexually. As per a study in the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, testicular disruption, impaired spermatogenesis and subsequent poor semen are found in males with zinc deficiency. Thus, several features of sexual dysfunction are affected due to zinc deficiency. To restore your normal libido levels, you may consider taking libido enhancer after consulting your doctor.

The richest food sources of zinc are oysters, red meat, poultry and sea food (crab and lobster). Vegetarian food sources are beans, nuts, whole grains and dairy products. Vegetarians usually fall short of zinc as their diet contains minimal amounts of the mineral.

Even the zinc that is consumed in vegetarian diet is not available for use within the body due to the presence of phytates in the vegetarian diet that inhibits the absorption of zinc within the blood. Hence, it is recommended that vegetarians consume double the amounts of the zinc RDA as compared to non-vegetarians. If you are falling short of zinc, do not hesitate to consume zinc supplements.

Zinc affects all the three aspects of male sexuality. It affects the psychological aspect by lowering libido. It causes functional issues by causing ED. Finally, it affects the structural aspects of the reproductive system by means of decreased sperm production and stunted growth of sexual organs. So, don’t take the lack of this micronutrient lightly. It can have devastating effects on your sexual life.