Belly fat linked to low testosterone and erectile dysfunction

Belly fat (visceral obesity) is linked to inflammation and inflammation leads to endothelial dysfunction (the cells lining blood vessel walls do not function appropriately). Obesity is also linked to a drop in the level of plasma testosterone which contributes to Hypogonadism and increases the risk of vascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction and Hypogonadism are both connected to erectile dysfunction (ED). There is also actually a decrease in circulation to the male organ because blood vessels do not respond well. These researchers from Boston University School of Medicine after combing the research suggest that visceral adiposity adversely affects blood vessel function and testosterone levels contributing to hypogonadism and ED. The study is published in the October 2009 issue of the FEBS Journal; the European Journal of Biochemistry .