Editor’s note (August 2026): The research discussed below was an observational conference study of Mediterranean-diet adherence in older men. It did not compare olive oil with Viagra and did not establish olive oil as a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

An observational University of Athens study reported an association between greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet, including olive oil consumption, and better sexual health among older men.

Scientists looked at the health and diet of 660 men with an average age of 67. The study focused on the benefits of a Mediterranean diet and discovered several advantages to olive oil consumption and sexual performance.

The researchers reported that men who used olive oil in place of butter while following a Mediterranean diet — which is rich in oils, legumes, nuts, unrefined carbs, fruits and vegetables, moderately high in fish and dairy, and low in red meat and processed foods — saw significant improvements in their sexual health.

The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Christina Chrysohoou, said in an interview with The Independent that “men that follow a Med diet — particularly consuming lots of olive oil — see their risk of impotence reduced by up to 40 per cent in older age.”

The researchers proposed that associations with testosterone levels and blood-vessel health might help explain the observed relationship, but the study did not establish that olive oil itself treats erectile dysfunction.

“This is a drug-free solution that allows men to keep their sexual function. But also a long-term answer to protecting a man’s ability to perform in the bedroom,” Chrysohoou said. “Viagra does not improve something long-term, it can only give some short effect in order to have sexual capacity.”

Because the blood vessels in the penis are so narrow, being unable to achieve or maintain an erection can be one of the first signs of atherosclerosis, the narrowing of arteries that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.