Male Infertility - Supplements

About this treatment

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.

Supplement	Amount	Why
Zinc (Zinc Deficiency)	60 mg (plus 2 mg of copper, to prevent depletion) daily	Zinc deficiency leads to reduced numbers of sperm and impotence in men. Taking zinc may correct this problem and improve sperm quality.
Zinc 60 mg (plus 2 mg of copper, to prevent depletion) daily Zinc deficiency leads to reduced numbers of sperm and impotence in men.⁶ The correlation between blood levels of zinc and sperm quality remains controversial. Infertile men have been reported to have lower levels of zinc in their semen, than do men with normal fertility.⁷ Similarly, men with normal sperm density tend to have higher amounts of zinc in their semen, than do men with low sperm counts.⁸ However, other studies have found that a high concentration of zinc in the semen is related to decreased sperm motility in infertile men.⁹^{, 10} A few studies have shown that oral zinc supplementation improves both sperm count¹¹^{, 12} motility,¹³^{, 14} and the physical characteristics of sperm in some groups of infertile men.¹⁵ For infertile men with low semen zinc levels, a preliminary trial found that zinc supplements (240 mg per day) increased sperm counts and possibly contributed to successful impregnation by 3 of the 11 men.¹⁶ However, these studies all included small numbers of volunteers, and thus the impact of their conclusions is limited. In a controlled trial, 100 men with low sperm motility received either 57 mg of zinc twice daily or a placebo.¹⁷ After three months, there was significant improvement in sperm quality, sperm count, sperm motility, and fertilizing capacity of the sperm. The ideal amount of supplemental zinc remains unknown, but some doctors recommend 30 mg two times per day. Long-term zinc supplementation requires 1–2 mg of copper per day to prevent copper deficiency. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Arginine	4 grams daily	The amino acid arginine is needed to produce sperm. Research shows that several months of L-arginine supplementation increases sperm count, quality, and fertility.
Arginine 4 grams daily Arginine, an amino acid found in many foods, is needed to produce sperm. Research, most of which is preliminary shows that several months of L-arginine supplementation increases sperm count, quality,¹⁸^{, 19}^{, 20} and fertility.²¹^{, 22} However, when the initial sperm count was extremely low (such as less than 10 million per ml), L-arginine supplementation produced little or no benefit.²³^{, 24} While some pregnancies have been attributed to arginine supplementation in preliminary reports,²⁵ no controlled research has confirmed these claims. For infertile men with sperm counts greater than 10 million per milliliter, many doctors recommend up to 4 grams of L-arginine per day for several months. What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Asian Ginseng	4 grams daily	One preliminary study found that men who took Asian ginseng had an improvement in sperm count and sperm motility.
Asian Ginseng 4 grams daily Asian ginseng may prove useful for male infertility. One preliminary study found that 4 grams of Asian ginseng per day for three months led to an improvement in sperm count and sperm motility.²⁶ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
L-Carnitine	3 grams daily	L-carnitine appears to be necessary for normal functioning of sperm cells. Supplementing with it may improve sperm motility.
L-Carnitine 3 grams daily L-carnitine is a substance made in the body and also found in supplements and some foods (such as meat). It appears to be necessary for normal functioning of sperm cells. In preliminary studies, supplementing with 3–4 grams per day for four months helped to normalize sperm motility in men with low sperm quality.²⁷^{, 28} While the majority of clinical trials have used L-carnitine, one preliminary trial found that acetylcarnitine (4 grams per day) may also prove useful for treatment of male infertility caused by low quantities of immobile sperm.²⁹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Maca	1,500 to 3,000 mg daily	A small clinical trial found that healthy men who took dried maca powder had increased sperm counts and enhanced sperm motility.
Maca 1,500 to 3,000 mg daily A small clinical trial found that healthy men who took dried maca powder had increased sperm counts and enhanced sperm motility.³⁰ What Else Is This Supplement Used For?

Supplement	Amount	Why
Selenium	100 mcg daily	In a study of infertile men with reduced sperm motility, supplementing with selenium significantly increased sperm motility.
Selenium 100 mcg daily In a double-blind study of infertile men with reduced sperm motility, supplementation with selenium (100 mcg per day for three months) significantly increased sperm motility, but had no effect on sperm count. Eleven percent of 46 men receiving selenium achieved paternity, compared with none of 18 men receiving a placebo.³¹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin B12	1,500 mcg daily	Vitamin B12 is needed to maintain fertility. Vitamin B12 injections have been shown to increase sperm counts. Men
Vitamin B12 1,500 mcg daily Vitamin B12 is needed to maintain fertility. Vitamin B12 injections have increased sperm counts for men with low numbers of sperm.³² These results have been duplicated in double-blind research.³³ In one study, a group of infertile men were given oral vitamin B12 supplements (1,500 mcg per day of methylcobalamin) for 2 to 13 months. Approximately 60% of those taking the supplement experienced improved sperm counts.³⁴ However, controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results. Men seeking vitamin B12 injections should consult a physician. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Acetyl-L-Carnitine	Refer to label instructions	Acetylcarnitine may be a useful for treatment of male infertility caused by low quantities of immobile sperm.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine L-carnitine is a substance made in the body and also found in supplements and some foods (such as meat). It appears to be necessary for normal functioning of sperm cells. In preliminary studies, supplementing with 3–4 grams per day for four months helped to normalize sperm motility in men with low sperm quality.³⁵^{, 36} While the majority of clinical trials have used L-carnitine, one preliminary trial found that acetylcarnitine (4 grams per day) may also prove useful for treatment of male infertility caused by low quantities of immobile sperm.³⁷ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Coenzyme Q10	Refer to label instructions	CoQ10 is a nutrient used by the body to produce energy. While its exact role in the formation of sperm is unknown, even small amounts appear to increase sperm count and motility.
Coenzyme Q10 Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a nutrient used by the body in the production of energy. While its exact role in the formation of sperm is unknown, there is evidence that as little as 10 mg per day (over a two-week period) will increase sperm count and motility.³⁸ In one study, men with low sperm counts were given CoQ10 (60 mg per day for about three months). No significant change was noted in most sperm parameters, but a significant improvement was noted in in-vitro fertilization rates.³⁹ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
SAMe	Refer to label instructions	Preliminary research suggests that oral SAMe may also increase sperm activity in infertile men.
SAMe Preliminary research suggests that oral SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine), in amounts of 800 mg per day, may also increase sperm activity in infertile men.⁴⁰ What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

Supplement	Amount	Why
Vitamin E	Refer to label instructions	Vitamin E supplementation appears to enhance fertility, possibly by decreasing free-radical damage to sperm cells.
Vitamin E Vitamin E deficiency in animals leads to infertility.⁴¹ In a preliminary human trial, 100–200 IU of vitamin E given daily to both partners of infertile couples led to a significant increase in fertility.⁴² Vitamin E supplementation may enhance fertility by decreasing free-radical damage to sperm cells. In another preliminary study, men with low fertilization rates in previous attempts at in vitro fertilization were given 200 IU of vitamin E per day for three months.⁴³ After one month of supplementation, fertilization rates increased significantly, and the amount of oxidative stress on sperm cells decreased. However, the evidence in favor of vitamin E remains preliminary. A review of research on vitamin E for male infertility concluded that there is no justification for its use in treating this condition.⁴⁴ Controlled trials are needed to validate these promising preliminary findings. What Else Is This Supplement Used For? See Drug Interactions

References

Last Review: 05-11-2011

Learn more about Aisle7, the company.

The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

Care Circle

It Seems That You Are Not Logged In...

Join Now

Log In
Help

Welcome to Care Circle, an exclusive tool to help you take care of yourself and your loved ones. Here's how it works:

Create profiles for yourself and your loved ones.
Select the topics and conditions that interest each of you.
Get customized news updates, original content, tools, and expert advice for each Care Circle member delivered directly to your personalized homepage.

The information you input is strictly private; you choose who has access to your Care Circle.

Adding Someone
Saving Content
Adding Additional Topics & Conditions
Deleting Topics & Conditions

How do I add myself or someone else to my care circle?

Click on "Add someone." Fill out the short profile. Choose an avatar. Select the topics and conditions that interest this person from the pulldown menu. You can select as many as you want, but you must choose at least one. Click on "Add Someone" again. You should start getting updates immediately.

How do I save content to my Care Circle?

Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab of the person for whom you're saving content. Put your cursor over the piece of content that you want to save; a disk icon will appear in the righthand corner. Click on the disk and the piece of content will be moved to a save folder.

How do I add additional topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?

Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Add More to Follow," select additional topics and conditions.

How do I delete topics and conditions for someone in my Care Circle?

Click on "Manage My Care Circle." Select the tab for the person whose preferences you'd like to update. Under "Follows," scroll over the topic or condition you want to delete. An "X" should appear on the righthand side. Click on the "X" and the topic or condition will be deleted from the list.