Male Fertility, Coenzyme Q10 Improves Sperm Quality
Coenzyme Q10: helps men become more fertile
Men who suffer from fertility problems associated with poor sperm quality can improve their condition by taking coenzyme Q10 supplements for at least 3 months. This important antioxidant works by reducing oxidative stress, which can alter sperm quality and lead to infertility, and by activating enzymes that themselves have antioxidant action. The result is sperm with better shape and improved motility. These potential benefits of coenzyme Q10 were revealed by a study published in the journal Andrologia by a group of researchers from Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd (Iran).
All the properties of coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is a molecule that performs functions very similar to vitamins. It is often called ubiquinone because it is present throughout the human body, concentrating especially in the mitochondria, the organelles responsible for energy production.
Here, coenzyme Q10 is one of the cogs in the machinery that produces energy, but outside the mitochondria this molecule performs another important function: it protects against oxidation. This second function helps maintain adequate levels of important molecules like vitamins E and C and, as demonstrated by several scientific studies, coenzyme Q10 is helpful in cases of angina, heart attacks, hypertension, and other cardiovascular disorders.
Oxidative stress: enemy of male fertility
In many men with sterility problems, sperm is characterized by increased oxidative stress. This condition compromises the quality and function of sperm. Similarly, low concentrations of coenzyme Q10 in seminal fluid have been associated with poor sperm quality. Although the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unknown, a previous study by Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran (Iran), published in the Journal of Urology, showed that sperm quality can be improved by taking 300 mg per day of coenzyme Q10 for 26 weeks.
However, only modest results were achieved in that first study. The experts from Shahid Sadoughi University have confirmed with their new analyses the potential of coenzyme Q10 to counter male fertility problems, revealing that the benefits may be greater than previously thought.
Demonstrated efficacy at 200 mg per day
The new study involved 66 sterile men whose sperm showed problems of concentration, malformations, and reduced motility. Of the initially recruited participants, 47 completed a trial involving the daily intake of 200 mg of coenzyme Q10 or a placebo, for a total of 3 months of treatment. The first result from the analyses conducted on these patients is that taking coenzyme Q10 increases the levels of this molecule, with concentrations rising from an average of 44.74 nanograms per milliliter of seminal fluid to about 68 nanograms per milliliter.
This increase was associated with greater activity of two enzymes involved in controlling oxidative stress, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Finally, the measurement of isoprostanes levels, molecules that indicate the presence of oxidative stress, allowed the conclusion that besides improving the level of enzymes with antioxidant activity, coenzyme Q10 intake actually reduces oxidative stress in seminal fluid. Based on these results, it can be concluded that taking 200 mg per day of coenzyme Q10 for 3 months could be an effective strategy to improve sperm quality in those suffering from fertility problems. To stay always updated on the latest scientific research news, subscribe to our newsletter.
Sources: Nadjarzadeh A, Shidfar F, Amirjannati N, Vafa MR, Motevalian SA, Gohari MR, Nazeri Kakhki SA, Akhondi MM, Sadeghi MR, “Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on antioxidant enzymes activity and oxidative stress of seminal plasma: a double-blind randomised clinical trial”, Andrologia. 2013 Jan 7. doi: 10.1111/and.12062 Safarinejad MR, “Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 on semen parameters, sperm function and reproductive hormones in infertile men”, J Urol. 2009 Jul;182(1):237-48. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2009.02.121
