Red wine a cure for impotence?

Something in red wine helps rats have erections, according to researchers at Osaka University.

Although it is still unclear whether a similar effect would be felt by humans and while the research does not prove that red wine itself helps overcome erectile dysfunction (ED), the discovery may be a step forward for impotence research.

Resveratrol, a type of polyphenol found in red wines, appeared to increase blood flow to the rats' penises by promoting the production of nitrogen monoxide, which widens blood vessels.

The researchers induced ED in the rats by giving them diabetes and then gave them resveratrol powder for four weeks. Electric shocks were administered to induce erections.

The blood flow to the genitals, which had fallen to about half that observed in nondiabetic rats, recovered to about 80 percent of normal flow.