Infertility is when a couple is unable to conceive a child after one year of trying. About 40 percent of infertility issues in a couple is caused by the male partner, according to the Fertility-Facts website. Male infertility is related sperm shape, sperm motility and sperm count. Some nutritional supplements have been shown to improve low sperm counts in men.
Folic Acid and Zinc Sulfate
Zinc is a mineral responsible for protein and DNA synthesis and cell division. Men with zinc deficiencies have low sperm counts, according to Fertility-Facts. Folate is a B vitamin needed for cell production and maintenance. Men with low folate intakes have more sperm chromosomal abnormalities, according to Science Daily.
A 2002 study published in "Fertility and Sterility" studied the effects of folic acid and zinc sulfate supplementation on semen quality in sub-fertile men. The men were randomly assigned to receive 5 mg of folic acid and a placebo, 66 mg of zinc and a placebo, 5 mg of folic acid and 66 mg of zinc or two placebos. The men receiving the combined therapy of folic acid and zinc showed a 74 percent increase in sperm count. The authors of the study suggest more research is needed before formal recommendations can be made.
Vitamin C
As an antioxidant, vitamin C protects sperm from oxidative damage, according to the Fertility-Facts website. Vitamin C supplementation also might improve sperm counts. A study published in the "Journal of Medicinal Food" in 2006 tested the effects of oral vitamin C supplementation on semen variables in infertile men. The men were supplemented with 1,000 mg of vitamin C twice a day for two months. At the end of the study period, the sperm count in infertile men increased from 14.3 million per ml of semen to 32.8 million per ml of semen. The Mayo Clinic says more than 20 million sperm per ml of semen is considered fertile.
Selenium and N-Acetyl Cysteine
Selenium is a trace mineral found in high concentrations in healthy sperm. N-acetyl cysteine, or NAC, is an antioxidant shown to prevent and treat conditions of oxidative stress, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
A study published in 2009 in the "Journal of Urology" investigated the effects of selenium and NAC supplementation on semen parameters in infertile men. The men were randomly assigned to receive 200 mcg of selenium, 600 mg of NAC, 200 mcg of selenium and 600 mg of NAC or a placebo. The authors of the study reported higher concentrations of selenium and NAC were associated with higher sperm counts in the infertile men. The authors suggest supplementation with selenium and NAC as a treatment option for infertility.
References
- Fertility-Facts
- "Journal of Medicinal Food"; Improvement in Human Semen Quality After Oral Supplementation of Vitamin C; M. Akmal; 2006
- "Journal of Urology"; Efficacy of Selenium and/or N-Acetyl-Cysteine for Improving Semen Parameters in Fertile Men: A Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Randomized Study; M.R. Safarinejad; 2009
- "Fertility and Sterility"; Effects of Folic Acid and Zinc Sulfate on Male Factor Subfertility: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- MayoClinic.com: Healthy Sperm: Improving Your Fertility
