Pure hypertriglyceridemia might be associated with erectile dysfunction: A pilot study

Introduction: Unlike the association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the association between ED and hypertriglyceridemia is still debatable. Aim: To study prevalence and severity of ED in young men with very high levels of triglycerides. Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of ED, ED severity, total cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol levels, and triglycerides levels. Methods: Men who were enrolled went through routine health checks including full lipid profiling and completion of the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire. Very high levels of triglycerides were defined as ≥500mg/dL. Very high levels of LDL cholesterol were defined as ≥190mg/dL. Men with diabetes, ischemic heart disease, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ≥ 60mg/dL, and mixed hyperlipidemias were excluded. Results: Included were 88 men, aged 35.9 ± 7.1 years (range: 25-51 years): 21 men with "pure" severe hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride levels ≥500mg/dL and non-HDL cholesterol ≤ 189mg/ dL), 34 men with "pure" severe hyperlipidemia (LDL cholesterol levels ≥ 190mg/dL and triglycerides ≤ 199mg/dL), and 33 men with normal cholesterol levels. No significant differences were found between these groups in terms of mean age and mean SHIM score. Prevalence of ED (i.e., SHIM score<22) was higher among men with "pure" severe hypertriglyceridemia than among men with "pure" severe hyperlipidemia (42.9% vs. 29.4%) and men with normal cholesterol levels (42.9% vs. 24.2%), although these results were not statistically significant (P = 0.2 and 0.4, respectively). Conclusions: Prevalence of ED might be increased in young men with "pure"severe hypertriglyceridemia, though a larger cohort with a longitudinal follow-up is needed to prove that hypertriglyceridemia is an independent risk factor for ED.