Sperm are the male reproductive cells produced in the testicles, where they take approximately 70 days to develop. The sperm cell consists of a head, midpiece and tail. The mineral zinc is found in every cell in the body and may be helpful for certain health conditions such as, herpes, ADHA, age-related macular degeneration, colds and acne, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Zinc may also be beneficial for sperm health. Talk to your doctor before taking a zinc supplement.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for many different functions in the body, including immune function, cell division, taste, smell, wound healing and protein synthesis. The body has no storage system for zinc, so an adequate daily intake is essential for health. Good food sources of zinc include red meats, poultry, shellfish and cheese. Zinc supplements are also available. The best absorbed forms include zinc citrate, zinc monomethionine, zinc picolinate and zinc glycerate, says the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Sperm Health
Quantity, quality and motility are all important for sperm health and fertility. A single ejaculation should contain 39 million sperm, says MayoClinic.com. It is also important that sperm have a normal structure and shape. Sperm that have crooked heads or double tails are less likely to fertilize an egg. Sperm must also be able to move properly to be able to reach the egg.
Zinc and Sperm Health
In an Australian study published in the "Asian Journal of Andrology" in 2009, researchers investigated the effect of zinc on 458 subfertile men. The authors found that zinc levels in the body were directly associated with sperm count and are important for the development of sperm cells, a process called spermatogenesis. The team also found that zinc deficiency leads to gonadal dysfunction and decreased testicular weight and can deplete levels of testosterone.
Zinc Deficiency
Symptoms of zinc deficiency include poor wound healing, skin problems, lack of taste or smell, loss of appetite, hair loss, white spots on the fingernails and depression. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, if you suffer from a digestive disorder such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, you are at risk of a zinc deficiency, as these conditions can reduce zinc absorption. Chronic diarrhea also leads to excessive loss of zinc. Other diseases such as chronic liver disease, sickle cell disease and chronic renal disease or diabetes are also associated with low zinc levels. As the richest food sources of zinc are meats, vegetarians may be at risk of a zinc deficiency. Additionally, foods such as whole grains and legumes, which are typically eaten in large amounts by vegetarians, contain substances called phytates that bind to zinc and reduce its absorption. The Office of Dietary Supplements comments that vegetarians may need as much as 50 percent more of the RDA for zinc than non-vegetarians.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Zinc
- MayoClinic.com: Healthy Sperm
- "Asian Journal of Andrology": Relationship Between Seminal Plasma Zinc Concentration and Spermatozoa--Zona Pellucida Binding and the ZP-Induced Acrosome Reaction in Subfertile Men; De-Yi Liu, et al.; 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Zinc
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