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More common than anyone suspects, the unspoken issue of sexual dysfunction affects more than half of the MS population.

Researchers delved into the private lives of men with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a recent study and discovered that sexual dysfunction is a common MS complication. Although it’s a topic patients may be reluctant to discuss with their neurologists, they should be aware that intimacy problems are often treatable...... Read More - http://www.ms-uk.org/qol

OK I'll break the ice. I have that problem. Remember that Viagra commercial that says: "if you have an erection lasting more than 4 hours call your doctor." Call my doctor heck. If I have that problem I'll throw a party.

In my case I can't say if ED is due to MS or my age, 65.

hi david have you had your zinc level done? i recall you noticing leg twitching with sugar consumption, which along with the ms dx points to low normal aka suboptimal zinc status.
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 24417.html

i had a hunt around for studies using zinc to treat ED specifically - found this relatively recent study:

Interventions for treating sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic kidney disease (2010)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21154382
"oral zinc improved end of treatment testosterone levels ... zinc [is a] promising [intervention] for treating sexual dysfunction in men with CKD. Evidence supporting their routine use in CKD patients is limited. There is an unmet need for studying interventions for both male and female sexual dysfunction in CKD, considering the significant disease burden"

related recent TiMS chats:

http://www.thisisms.com/forum/post224156.html#p224156

typical average serum zinc level in healthy controls (very high normal): 18.2-18.4 umol/L (~120 ug/dL)

more science

Zinc deficiency in elderly patients.
http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/8353362

Zinc absorption in healthy elderly humans and the effect of diet.
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/58/5/690.short

that last one points out that zinc absorption is not impaired in the elderly, in spite of deficiency being so common. zinc absorption has more to do with composition of the diet than age.

so, you're probably a couple decades short of the study group there, but either way, can't hurt to investigate your status.

counter intuitively, I've found that a copper supplement greatly improves things in that department. I've never heard anybody else mention copper for ED. Ironically, I have found that taking manganese has the opposite effect. And, manganese is an agonist to copper. So I support the zinc theory, but I would also consider copper.

if you are copper depleted for any reason, including taking zinc without balancing copper to prevent depletion, that would explain zinc making you feel worse, and copper making you feel better.

Copper deficiency myelopathy produces a clinical picture like subacute combined degeneration
http://www.neurology.org/content/63/1/33

Unrecognized copper deficiency appears to be a common cause of idiopathic myelopathy in adults. The clinical picture bears striking similarities to the syndrome of subacute combined degeneration associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Early recognition and copper supplementation may prevent neurologic deterioration.