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The Importance of Diet, Vitamins, Malnutrition, and Nutrient Deficiencies in Male Fertility

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Male Infertility

Abstract

Male-factor infertility is common and is frequently idiopathic in nature. Numerous studies have identified associations between seminal reactive oxygen species, decreased levels of various endogenous/exogenous antioxidants, obesity, and male sub-/infertility. Given these observations, several investigations have evaluated the efficacy of nutrient supplementation on male fertility. Due to the large amount of data available, the objective of this chapter is to compile and summarize pertinent findings of trials reporting fertility outcomes with nutrient supplementation. A literature search was performed of studies evaluating the efficacy of nutrients on male-factor fertility, with priority given to randomized, controlled trials, where available. Nutrients demonstrating potential benefits with male fertility include alpha-lipoic acid, anthocyanins, l-arginine, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, biotin, l-acetyl carnitine, l-carnitine, cobalamin, co-enzyme Q10, ethylcysteine, folic acid, glutathione, inositol, lycopene, magnesium, N-acetyl cysteine, pentoxifylline, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, polyunsaturated fatty acids, selenium, Vitamins A, C, D, and E, and zinc, among others. Results from available data suggest that nutrient supplementation of infertile males may lead to improved pregnancy and live birth rates, reduced DNA fragmentation, and enhanced sperm motility, without improvement in total sperm count. Insufficient data is available to suggest superiority of any one agent. Similarly, the optimal combination and dosing regimen for nutrient supplementation remain unknown. Despite the limited amount of data, given the potential benefits of supplementation and low rate of adverse effects, the routine use of nutritional supplements in sub-/infertile males undergoing assisted reproductive techniques is reasonable. Further well-designed, placebo-controlled trials reporting outcome measures of pregnancy and live birth are mandated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Landon W. Trost MD

  2. Department of Urology, University of Florida & Winter Haven Hospital, 199 Avenue B North West Suite 310, Winter Haven, FL, 33881, USA

    Ahmet Gudeloglu MD & Sijo J. Parekattil MD

  3. Department of Urology, Loma Linda University, 11234 Anderson Street, A560, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA

    Edmund Y. Ko MD

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  1. Landon W. Trost MD
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  2. Ahmet Gudeloglu MD
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  3. Edmund Y. Ko MD
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  4. Sijo J. Parekattil MD
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Correspondence to Sijo J. Parekattil MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Physiology, Stellenbosch University Faculty of Health Sciences, Tygerberg, South Africa

    Stefan S. du Plessis

  2. Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

  3. Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Edmund S. Sabanegh, Jr.

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Trost, L.W., Gudeloglu, A., Ko, E.Y., Parekattil, S.J. (2014). The Importance of Diet, Vitamins, Malnutrition, and Nutrient Deficiencies in Male Fertility. In: du Plessis, S., Agarwal, A., Sabanegh, Jr., E. (eds) Male Infertility. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1040-3_5

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