Men between the ages of 40 and 70 years who were given a combination of extracts of pomegranate fruit rind with cacao seeds experienced a boost in sexual function and general well-being, according to findings from a clinical trial.

Research has shown that pomegranate and cacao seeds (which give us chocolate) support the production of male testosterone, which declines during aging.

At the end of a 12-week trial, participant questionnaire responses revealed significant improvements in sexual thoughts, arousal, behavior, orgasm, drive, morning erection and sexual activity among men who received pomegranate plus cacao compared with the beginning of the study and compared with a placebo group. A second questionnaire documented improvement in erectile function, orgasmic function, desire, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction. Additionally, men who received pomegranate-cacao had less fatigue compared with the beginning of the study, and better sleep, hand grip strength, six-minute walk distances and general health compared with both the beginning of the study and the placebo.

The randomized, double-blind trial included men between the ages of 40 and 70 years with low sexual desire and mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction. Fifty-seven participants received 400 milligrams of the pomegranate-cacao combination, and 59 received a placebo for 12 weeks. Participant responses to questionnaires administered at the beginning of the study and various time points thereafter provided the researchers with information concerning sexual function, erectile function, fatigue, sleep and general health. Hand grip strength and walking ability were also assessed before, during and after the trial. The findings were reported this year in the International Journal of Medical Sciences.¹