Interaction of smoking and spicy habits modifies the risk of erectile dysfunction

Having a spicy diet and smoking habit may be important factors causing erectile dysfunction (ED). The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of spicy diet and smoking habits on the risk of ED in men, with a focus on the interaction between these lifestyle factors.

Our investigation was conducted as a retrospective analysis spanning from June 2017 to June 2023. Participants underwent interviews utilizing the Structured Interview on Erectile Dysfunction (SIEDY) to evaluate the degree of pathological factors. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) was employed as a metric for assessing ED. Additionally, the subjects were comprehensively questioned about their smoking history and dietary preferences, which included an inquiry into how often they consumed spicy meals.

Our research involved 373 participants, with 67.6% being individuals with ED. Among the participants, 50.7% were non-smokers and 49.3% were smokers, totaling 188 and 185, respectively. There was no significant difference in the spicy food frequency consumption among smokers with ED. However, non-smokers who consumed spicy food more frequently experienced more severe ED (P=0.02). ED patients showed significant differences in body mass index (BMI), blood glucose and testosterone, which were linked to vascular damage (P=0.03, P=0.02, P=0.04, respectively). Additionally, non-smokers who consumed more spicy food had higher scores on the SIEDY 2 scale, indicating marital factors (P=0.004). In non-smoking participant, a high spicy ratio indicated an even higher risk of ED [odds ratio 2.58, 95% confidence interval: 1.27-5.26; P=0.008], while there was no significant impact on ED in smoking participants (data not shown).

This retrospective study suggests that a considerable consumption of spicy foods is independently correlated with an elevated risk of ED, particularly among non-smoking men.