Can male infertilify problems can be addressed by strong anti-oxidants like Astraxanthine & CoQ10

With declining birthrates and dwindling populations, infertility may soon become an issue of national significance in many affluent nations.

If a man has been attempting to conceive for more than a year and has not been successful despite engaging in sexual activity on the day of ovulation, he is considered infertile. Infertility has traditionally been seen as a female problem, but recent research has shown that male factors account for half of all cases. Male infertility is increasingly being treated as a serious problem in reproductive medicine.

Alarmingly, between 1973 and 2011, the concentration of sperm and the number of sperm in the study patients dropped by 52.4% and 59.3%, respectively, according to a meta-regression analysis of 185 research on semen quality1.

As this information spreads, there is a growing interest in the topic of semen quality. According to a 2017 assessment of male infertility conducted across Japan, spermatogenesis problems account for the vast majority of male infertility cases (82.6%)2. Half of the patients were also labelled as having an idiopathic failure of spermatogenesis, which means the cause of their infertility is uncertain.

Evidence from a number of research suggests that antioxidants such as astaxanthin and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can help maintain sperm health and, more specifically, sperm motility. Sperm motility refers to the vigour and efficiency with which sperm can swim forward.


What is Astraxanthine and how does it help overcome male infertility3,5:

Astaxanthin is one of nature's most potent antioxidants, beating vitamin C, vitamin E, and lycopene. Numerous tissues readily absorb and widely distribute astaxanthin. This is because its special structure, which places it in the middle of the cell's lipid bilayer, provides defence against oxidative stress from both within and outside the cell. It is primarily used to promote the health of the heart, brain, and eyes as well as to increase endurance and speed up recovery from physical activity. Recent clinical investigations have been undertaken to determine the association between astaxanthin and healthy sperm 5.

40% of infertile males have elevated semen free radicals. Poor diet, environmental pollutants, and smoking may cause this. Sperm produce lots of free radicals as they struggle to reach the egg. These hurdles include moving through the uterus, cervical mucous, and the cumulus oophorus, the thick gelatinous covering that surrounds an egg.

In a clinical trial, 30 men from infertile couples (where the female spouse had no fertility concerns) received astaxanthin (16 mg/day) or a placebo for three months in a double-blind randomised controlled experiment to assess its effects on sperm function and male fertility. The men gave semen for IUI for three months and recorded pregnancy. At three months, astaxanthin enhanced sperm motility and lowered semen free radical generation compared to placebo. This study's most striking finding was that participants in the astaxanthin group were more than twice as likely to become pregnant as those in the placebo group.

Most clinical trials have employed 6-12 mg of naturally-sourced astaxanthin with high-quality fat before or during meals. Avoid taking synthetic astaxanthin supplements because they are manufactured using petrochemicals that contribute to free-radical damage in the body.

Coenzyme Q10: The Key to Conquering Male Infertility6,9:

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like molecule produced by various cells in the body and thought to have health-promoting and disease-fighting properties, especially in the heart, kidney, liver, and pancreas. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been hypothesised to protect cells from free radical damage by acting as an antioxidant. One of the most common reasons for male infertility is low sperm motility, but there is an important treatment that may help.

CoQ10 supplements have been shown in research to increase sperm motility in men who are unable to conceive. One study found that the more CoQ10 there was in the seminal fluid, the more mobile the sperm were. Damaged and immobile sperm may be the result of oxidative stress brought on by free radicals. The swimming capacity of sperm is called "motility," and taking a CoQ10 supplement may increase motility. CoQ10 helps prevent oxidative stress and preserve sperm viability. Omega-3 fatty acids, along with some other minerals, have been shown to improve sperm concentration, and CoQ10 is no exception. The term "sperm concentration" is used to describe how many sperm are present in a sample of semen.

A healthy adult may take between 100 and 200 milligrammes (mg) of CoQ10 daily. Effects on sperm quality may not be immediately apparent, but fresh sperm cells are constantly created during adolescence and mature in around two and a half months. One study found that supplementing with 60 milligrammes of CoQ10 per day for 103 days increased fertilisation success. Consuming a CoQ10 pill on a daily basis is crucial, but it becomes much more so when attempting to conceive.

Reference:

  1. Levine, H. et al. Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Hum Reprod Update 23, 646–659 (2017).
  2. Yumura, Y. et al. Nationwide survey of urological specialists regarding male infertility: results from a 2015 questionnaire in Japan. Reprod Med Biol 17, 44–51 (2018).
  3. Capelli, B. & Lixin, L. Astaxanthin for immune health, brain health, and male fertility? Nutritional Outlook 22, (2019).
  4. Comhaire, F. H., Garem, Y. E., Mahmoud, A., Eertmans, F. & Schoonjans, F. Combined conventional/antioxidant “Astaxanthin” treatment for male infertility: a double blind, randomized trial. Asian Journal of Andrology 7, 257–262 (2005).
  5. Studies Show Astaxanthin May Improve Sperm Health & Fertilization Rates. Natural Fertility Info.com Learn more (2014).
  6. CoQ10 for Male Fertility - Natalist. Learn more.
  7. How Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) Affects Sperm Count and Motility. Progyny Learn more (2018).
  8. Lafuente, R. et al. Coenzyme Q10 and male infertility: a meta-analysis. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 1147–1156 (2013).
  9. Salvio, G. et al. Coenzyme Q10 and Male Infertility: A Systematic Review. Antioxidants 10, 874 (2021).