Oxidative stress is a key factor in cases of male infertility with no known causes. Coenzyme Q10 is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that can reduce oxidative stress in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia. CoQ10 supplementation can improve semen parameters in men with oligoasthenospermia [Alahmar 2022, 2021].
CoQ10 supplementation increases seminal CoQ10 levels, improves sperm count and sperm motility, and reduces sperm DNA fragmentation.
Note: Oligoasthenospermia is the medical term for a condition characterized by both low sperm count and low sperm motility. In this article, we review a series of case-control studies that have investigated the effect of CoQ10 therapy on the semen parameters and the antioxidant markers in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.
CoQ10 Therapy and Male Infertility with Unknown Causes
200 mg/day Coenzyme Q10 for six months
In a 2022 controlled clinical trial, Alahmar & Naemi assigned 178 male patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia to take 200 mg of oral Coenzyme Q10 once daily for six months. Their study included 84 fertile men as controls.
The researchers followed all study participants for another 18 months for pregnancy outcome and for time to pregnancy. The six-month CoQ10 therapy significantly improved semen parameters and antioxidant measures. It significantly reduced sperm DNA fragmentation [Alahmar & Naemi 2022].
Note: Sperm DNA fragmentation is a molecular-level disruption that may cause idiopathic male infertility. Oxidative stress – the imbalance between the level of harmful free radical activity and the level of antioxidant protection – may be the mechanism that causes sperm DNA fragmentation. An excess of reactive oxygen species free radicals can cause bends and breaks in seminal DNA.
In the CoQ10-treated group, the pregnancy rate was 24.2%. The time to pregnancy was 20.5 months. In the fertile control group patients, the corresponding values were 95.2% and 5.7 months [Alahmar & Naemi 2022].
Clearly, the CoQ10 therapy did not improve conception outcomes to the level of healthy fertile males. Nevertheless, the researchers concluded that CoQ10 therapy for six months is a potential treatment for men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia [Alahmar & Naemi 2022].
The CoQ10 treatment had the following positive effects [Alahmar & Naemi 2022]:
- increased seminal CoQ10 levels
- increased sperm concentration
- increased sperm motility
- increased seminal antioxidant levels
300 mg/day Coenzyme Q10 for three months
In a second 2022 controlled study, Alahmar enrolled 50 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia and 35 fertile controls. To the patients, the research team administered oral Coenzyme Q10 (300 mg/day) once daily for three months [Alahmar 2022].
The study results showed that the CoQ10 treatment had the following results compared to baseline values [Alahmar 2022]:
- increased seminal Coenzyme Q10
- increased sperm progressive motility
- increased total motility
- increased seminal total antioxidant capacity
- reduced reactive oxygen species levels
Alahmar concluded that the CoQ10 therapy at a dosage of 300 mg/day for three months improved sperm motility and seminal antioxidant markers in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia.
200 mg/day Coenzyme Q10 for three months
In a 2021 case-control study, Alahmar and a team of researchers enrolled 65 infertile patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia and 40 fertile men as controls. To the patients, the researchers administered 200 mg/day of Coenzyme Q10 for three months [Alahmar 2021].
The study results showed the following significant benefits of the CoQ10 treatment for three months [Alahmar 2021]:
- improved seminal fluid CoQ10 concentrations
- improved sperm concentrations
- improved progressive sperm motility
- improved total sperm motility
- reduced reactive oxygen species levels
- reduced sperm DNA fragmentation
Conclusion: CoQ10 Protects Against Male Infertility
In a 2021 review of available research literature, Alahmar et al found that seminal Coenzyme Q10 as an antioxidant and as a co-factor in mitochondrial bioenergetics played an ameliorative role in male fertility parameters [Alahmar 2021 Jun].
- CoQ10 supplementation improved sperm count and sperm motility in infertile men [Alahmar 2021 Jun]
- CoQ10 supplementation protected sperm from oxidative damage and from sperm DNA fragmentation [Alahmar 2021 Jun].
With that said, it is important to take a CoQ10 supplement with scientifically documented absorption and bioavailability. Commercially available CoQ10 products are not equally good.
Sources
Alahmar AT, Naemi R. Predictors of pregnancy and time to pregnancy in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia pre- and post-coenzyme Q10 therapy. Andrologia. 2022 Jun;54(5):e14385.
Alahmar AT. Coenzyme Q10 improves sperm motility and antioxidant status in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia. Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2022 Dec;49(4):277-284.
Alahmar AT, Calogero AE, Sengupta P, Dutta S. Coenzyme q10 improves sperm parameters, oxidative stress markers and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia. World J Mens Health. 2021 Apr;39(2):346-351.
Alahmar AT, Calogero AE, Singh R, Cannarella R, Sengupta P, Dutta S. Coenzyme Q10, oxidative stress, and male infertility: A review. Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2021 Jun;48(2):97-104.
The information presented in this review article is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used as such.
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