CoQ10 May Help Sperm

TEHRAN, Iran—Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation significantly improved certain semen parameters in a recent study published in The Journal of Urology (2009;182(1):237-48). A total of 212 infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg/d of CoQ10 orally or a similar placebo regimen during a 26-week period, followed by a 30-week treatment-free phase.

Significant improvement in sperm density and motility was evident with CoQ10 therapy. Using the Kruger classification sperm morphology evaluation revealed an increase in the percent of normal forms in the CoQ10 group. A positive correlation was found between treatment duration with CoQ10 and sperm count as well as with sperm motility and sperm morphology. The CoQ10 group had a significant decrease in serum follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone at the 26-week treatment phase. By the end of the treatment phase the mean +/- SD acrosome reaction had increased from 14 percent +/- 8 percent and 15 percent +/- 8 percent to 31 percent +/- 11 percent and 16 percent +/- 10 percent in the CoQ10 and placebo groups, respectively. However, further studies are needed to draw a final conclusion and evaluate the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on the pregnancy rate.