What supplements and vitamins are good for sperm after a vasectomy reversal? 2023 Update
Men frequently ask, “What vitamins and supplements are recommended to improve a man’s fertility and vas reversal success rates?”
A research paper was published in the respected journal Urology by top expert Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy and his colleagues at the University of Miami which helps to answer this common question.
Based on scientific research and not just an opinion or a person’s experience, they performed a systematic review of the published evidence behind the claims for most of the popular over-the-counter male fertility supplements. This article, compiled by Dr. Sheldon H. F. Marks, will highlight the key points of that paper to help patients before and after a vasectomy reversal.
Some of the key phrases in this review are quoted directly from the published article, and so will be highlighted in quotation marks, with the reference to this scientific article located at the bottom of this page.*
Many people assume that all oral vitamins and supplements will improve sperm counts and motility, yet there is widely variable research. Of course, everyone has their own personal experience about which supplements helped and which didn’t. top fertility researchers will tell their patients that the best source of any nutrients will always be the natural foods that contain those nutrients, such as walnuts, almonds, blackberries and blueberries. Some products have been shown to be effective to boost sperm counts or sperm motility, while others may have no proven benefits, and some may actually hurt sperm. Others have been shown to improve sperm quality while others have not.
Many supplements may not have had adequate testing to confirm any benefits and safety. Dr. Ramasamy and his researchers specifically looked for multiple randomized control trials which are the best research studies to eliminate any biases by the men taking the supplements or the doctors involved.
Of the 17 commonly used combination products analyzed and 90 different ingredients, only 22% of all the ingredients had any “published evidence for improvement in semen parameters.” This means that most of the ingredients that many men take have no documented, scientifically tested benefits. Or as one colleague said, they just make expensive urine.
Several key points that are addressed in this paper:
1. “The indiscriminate and excessive use of antioxidants can actually hurt sperm if there is no excess oxidative stress, inducing a harmful state of “reductive stress.” There is a delicate balance in the body – just the right amount of oxidative particles are needed for normal cellular function. Too much is damaging and can hurt sperm and fertility, whereas not enough is just as bad as too much. The authors write “excessive use of antioxidant supplement therapy has been implicated in causing male infertility.” Targeted therapy using the right amount is smart as compared to “blanket prescribing with understudied and unreliable ingredients” which can be harmful.
2. “More is not always better.” Elevated levels of some vitamins and supplements have been shown to be dangerous and even increase the risks for fractures or tumors.
3. “Many studies have suggested that vitamin and mineral supplements for well-nourished patients have no clear benefit and may even be harmful.” Again, a well balanced diet rich in anti-oxidant rich colorful fresh fruits and vegetables may be the smartest way to ensure the best fertility after a vasectomy reversal.
This is why it is so important that men choose supplements wisely.
Listed are the supplements that have the highest proven benefits for sperm in multiple studies.
Vitamin E
Zinc
L-carnitine
Vitamin C
CoQ10
Other supplements with good evidence of benefits for fertility include:
Ashwaganda Extract
Folic acid
L-Glutathione
N-Acetyl Cysteine
Panax/Asian/Korean Ginseng Powder
Supplements with only one study showing benefits:
L-Arginine
L-Glutathione
Lycopene
Maca
Pine Bark
Shuddha Shilajit
The two products, Evolution 60 and Conception XR, both ranked the highest of all the combination products for having the most proven supplements and vitamins to improve sperm health.
Some recent studies in other fields have shown serrapeptase to have some potential anti-inflammatory benefits.
We encourage anyone with questions about a precision microsurgical vasectomy reversal and a sperm healthy diet and nutrition to call (888) 722-2929 to find out more about what makes our full-time, vas reversal only center with patients from every state in the US and more than 85 countries around the world worth consideration.
When ready, we can set up a no-charge consultation by Zoom, Face Time, Skype, phone or in-office with either Dr. Sheldon Marks or Dr. Peter Burrows.
This review was reviewed, updated and edited on January 4, 2023 by Sheldon H. F. Marks, MD.
Reference:
*A Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Analysis of Ingredients in Popular Male Fertility Supplements. M. Kuchakulla, Y. Soni, P. Patel, N. Parekh, R. Ramasamy, Urology (2019).