Higher serum albumin levels as a potential indicator for reduced risk of erectile dysfunction: evidence from NHANES study

Background: While blood albumin levels indicate organ function, their relationship to erectile dysfunction (ED) is unclear. The purpose of this study is to look at the association between serum albumin levels and ED in the general population. Methods: This cross-sectional research involved subjects from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2004. The study employed weighted multivariable regression, performed subgroup analyses and applied restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses. Results: Of the 3413 adults involved in this study, 868 (25.45%) indicated experiencing ED. A weighted multivariable logistic regression model indicated a negative association between serum albumin levels and ED (odds ratio (OR), 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.88–0.96). Serum albumin and ED were consistently associated across subgroups. Sensitivity analyses, which excluded individuals with albumin levels below 35 g/L, also indicated a connection between serum albumin and ED (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.79–0.85). Similarly, a stricter definition of ED yielded an association (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86–0.97), even after additional adjustments for sex hormones. Conclusions: Higher serum albumin levels are significantly associated with a reduced risk of ED, suggesting that serum albumin may serve as a potential biomarker for assessing ED risk.