The World Health Organization recently estimated that 15% of the world population affected by
infertility problems and become a global health issue. Although in the traditional thought
process, women fertility problem is considered as a major underlying cause of difficulty in
conceiving. However, male counterpart can be equally responsible for the same.
Recent days, developing countries face a major problem of poor sperm quality, which can
negatively affect the global human population. Improvement of sperm quality is an important
factor for preventing the high incidence rate of infertility issues among the present generation.
In the present century, occupational workload, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco smoking, high alcohol
consumption are certain lifestyle factors responsible for the imbalance of natural oxidant and
antioxidant in the body.
Males are mostly knowingly or unknowingly affected by these factors.
The continuous metabolic function in our body leads to the production of free radicals; whereas,
different natural antioxidant enzymes release from our body for neutralizing them. Usually, an
unhealthy lifestyle and poor dietary regimen increase oxidative stress, which is one of the major
cause of poor sperm quality.
In 2018, Fertility and Sterility journal published article published that men should be encouraged
to add antioxidant supplements to their diet. But this published review report also mentioned that
specific antioxidants require for sperm health improvement is not clear.
In November 2018, review research conducted by Universitat Rovira, I Virgili had involved
2,900 participants and analyzed 28 nutritional intervention studies provided a probable list of
dietary supplements which may increase the sperm quality.
It has become a common practice that fertility clinics prescribed some dietary supplements and
also recommended some foods to their patients before initiates in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or
intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
The most extensive and systematic review to date of randomized clinical studies conducted by
the researchers at the Human Nutrition Unit of the Universitat Rovira I Virgili (URV) and the
Pere I Virgili Health Research Institute (IISPV) had studied the effects of different dietary
supplements as well as certain nutrients on sperm quality and male fertility.
After completing this detail research review, researchers have recommended a different
combination of dietary supplements. These are as follows:
- In the market, omega 3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10 are available in both liquid and
tablet dosage forms. Both of these supplements increase sperm concentration in the
semen sample. - Certain minerals like selenium, zinc, along with omega 3 fatty acids and coenzyme Q10
also, increase sperm production. - Addition of carnitines with selenium, zinc, omega 3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10
supplements increase sperm mobility. - Combination of carnitines with selenium, omega 3 fatty acids, and coenzyme Q10
provides morphological benefits of sperm.
Scientific study evidence and researchers have acknowledged that dietary supplements alter the
sperm quality exerts some beneficial effect on male fertility for conceiving a child naturally or
through assisted reproduction techniques. Fertility and Sterility journal published article also
reported that presently male individuals are increasing their consumption rate of seafood,
poultry, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, the natural sources of antioxidants to maintain
the balance. However, further detail research requires to establish the dose of the specific
antioxidant supplements.