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Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports 4/2019

01-12-2019 | Obesity | Female Sexual Dysfunction and Disorders (T Lorenz and R Nappi, Section Editors)

From Table to Bedroom: Nutritional Status, Dietary Interventions, and Women’s Sexual Function

Authors: Sean M. McNabney, Gretchen N. Wiese, David L. Rowland

Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports | Issue 4/2019

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this review, we summarize recent empirical evidence assessing the relationship between nutrition and female sexual dysfunction and give a broad interpretation of the effects.

Recent Findings

Dietary patterns that ensure adequate intake of shortfall nutrients may help to ameliorate reproductive problems associated with eating disorders, while supplementation in women with low vitamin D status improves sexual functioning. Combination treatments addressing body image concerns and maladaptive eating habits appear to be more effective for some eating disorder subtypes that result in malnutrition. For overweight and obese women, weight loss resulting from dietary changes and/or bariatric surgery tends to improve sexual interest, arousal, and activity. The metabolic perturbations that characterize diabetes mellitus and polycystic ovarian syndrome warrant nutritional interventions, and these lifestyle modifications often improve sexual functioning. Evidence for the use of specific dietary supplements to improve sexual responsivity in women has generally not been supported.

Summary

Nutritional status can elicit, exacerbate, or ameliorate sexual problems. Treatment of female sexual dysfunction may be enhanced by a multidisciplinary approach incorporating cutting-edge developments in nutrition science.
Footnotes
1
This value includes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the American Diabetes Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the majority of these cases (~ 90% or higher) constitute type 2 diabetes. Importantly, lifestyle modifications—including diet—can be integral to treatment and/or management of both types, as discussed in this review.
 
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Metadata
Title
From Table to Bedroom: Nutritional Status, Dietary Interventions, and Women’s Sexual Function
Authors
Sean M. McNabney
Gretchen N. Wiese
David L. Rowland
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Sexual Health Reports / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 1548-3584
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3592
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-019-00224-9

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