Q. I’m a 28-year-old male and I’ve never had much of a sex drive. I recently learned from a family member that my mother, believing it curbed sexual appetite, dosed my brother and me with a spoonful or two of saltpeter each day.
I don’t know how long this went on, but I’m worried about what long-term effects chronic saltpeter consumption may have, sexual and otherwise.
A. Saltpeter is a common name for potassium nitrate. It is used as a preservative in cured meat and an ingredient in toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Many decades ago, doctors prescribed potassium nitrate for asthma and arthritis.
Despite persistent folklore, there is no evidence that saltpeter reduces libido. At high doses, it can cause headache, stomach upset, kidney damage or anemia. If you are well now, you probably don’t need to worry about your previous exposure.
