Boosting your fertility can make it easier for you and your partner to have a baby. Whether you change your diet or make simple lifestyle changes like lowering your stress, every effort can increase your chances of conception. Introducing herbal remedies may help as well, but there are also a variety of supplements that can benefit your fertility by improving your sperm and testosterone levels.
Carnitine
Taking carnitine supplements, also known as L-carnitine and Acetyl-L-carnitine, may help improve the health of your sperm, increasing your fertility. This compound helps your body turn fat into energy, but low levels of carnitine may cause low sperm counts, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Research published in the February 2005 issue of the journal "Fertility and Sterility" indicates that taking 2g of carnitine per day over a three-month period relates to improved sperm motility. This supplement may also play a role in combating erectile dysfunction. Evidence published in the September 2009 edition of "Current Medical Research and Opinion" suggests that taking carnitine in combination with other compounds over a 12-week period may improve erectile dysfunction in diabetic men. More research is needed to determine how carnitine can help improve erectile problems. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends a dosage of 300 to 1,000mg of carnitine three times daily for infertility problems.
Zinc
Including zinc supplements in your diet can benefit your fertility by boosting semen volume and testosterone levels, according to BabyCenter. A variety of research confirms these findings, including evidence published in a 1992 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," which indicates even a short-term zinc deficiency can decrease the amount of testosterone in your body as well as reduced volume of semen. The National Institutes of Medicine recommend that you get at least 11mg of zinc per day, but MedlinePlus warns that zinc may interact with a variety of foods--fiber can reduce zinc absorption, as can black coffee and dairy foods that contain calcium. Vegetarians are also at higher risk of zinc deficiencies due to a high volume of grains and beans in their diets that can inhibit absorption of zinc.
Coenzyme Q10
Consider adding coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, to your diet if you're concerned about your fertility. Research published in the July 2009 edition of the "Journal of Endocrinological Investigation" reveals a correlation between increased levels of CoQ10 and improved sperm motility. Evidence presented in the 1997 "Molecular Aspects of Medicine" indicates that 50mcg of CoQ10 per day has a significant impact on the motility of sperm, but the University of Maryland Medical Center website notes that a safe dosage for adults ranges from 30 to 200mg of CoQ10 on a daily basis. More research is needed to determine the true benefits of CoQ10 on your fertility as well as the optimal dosage.
References
- PubMed.gov: Oral carnitine supplementation increases sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men
- PubMed.gov: Effect of propionyl-L-carnitine, L-arginine and nicotinic acid on the efficacy of vardenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in diabetes
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition": Effects of dietary zinc depletion on seminal volume and zinc loss, serum testosterone concentrations, and sperm morphology in young men
- PubMed.gov: Coenzyme Q10 and male infertility
- PubMed.gov: The effect of coenzyme Q10 on sperm motility and function
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Carnitine
