Early studies found that animals couldn't reproduce and males' testicles shrunk without vitamin E in their diet. A few years later, in the 1940s and 50s, scientists gave women vitamin E for hot flashes, vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms. Many naturopathic doctors continue to successfully use this treatment for their patients experiencing menopause symptoms. Many also recommend vitamin E-rich foods such as vegetable oils, whole grains, seeds and nuts to help sexual problems. The prostate gland contains high amounts of zinc .
Zinc supplementation is also useful in some cases of male infertility.
Zinc deficiency can also cause sexual dysfunction in women, a condition that's reversible with supplementation, says Suleyman Dincer, M.D., from the S.B. Ankara Hospital in Turkey. Ironically, synthetic estrogens used in oral contraceptives deplete zinc as do diuretics. Foods high in zinc include seafood, meat, root vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Probably not at least not by themselves. Many of the herbs suggested for waning desire work as reproductive tonifiers, calming agents or as overall health enhancers.