Regular sex is good for the heart – but only if you’re a man

SEX is good for the heart because it reduces the levels of a harmful chemical in the blood, scientists believe – but the effect is only seen in men.

Having sex several times a week can lead to better circulation and healthier blood vessels in men, which researchers say is crucial for preventing a buildup of the chemical homocysteine. But scientists say women benefit much less because sexual arousal is less dependent on having a healthy blood flow, which is a key factor in keeping homocysteine under control.

Heart disease is the biggest killer in Britain.

Doctors have long suspected that frequent sex can reduce the risks, but the latest findings, published in the

Journal of Sexual Medicine, are the first to show it works by driving down homocysteine levels.

The chemical is a vital building block of proteins and occurs naturally in the body. But excess levels, which can be caused by poor diet, are thought to damage blood vessels supplying the heart.

Researchers from the National Defence Medical Centre in Taiwan tracked more than 2,000 men and women, aged from 20 to 59. They analysed blood samples to measure levels of homocysteine and matched the results up with volunteers’ sexual activity.

The results showed the lowest traces of the chemical were found in men claiming to have sex at least twice a week, while the highest readings were found in those restricted to less than once a month. But in women there was no significant variation.

Dr Mike Knapton, from the British Heart Foundation, said the study produced an “interesting result” but did not prove regular sex reduced homocysteine levels. He said: “Checking your blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as keeping active and not smoking, remain the best ways to ensure a healthy future.”