Half of the baby-making process relies on the male, and half of all infertility cases can be attributed to male factors. Your partner may already be taking a women’s preconception vitamin and you might assume most of the eggs are in her basket. But the buck doesn’t stop with her: there are ways to boost your fertility and increase your chances of conceiving naturally.

Read on to discover which vitamins are best for men’s fertility and how they work. Learn how to find the best preconception vitamin to take when trying to conceive, any side effects to be mindful of and our top tips to increase male fertility. 

What Causes Infertility in Men?

Male fertility issues are often attributed to:

• Sperm quality
• Genetics
• Lifestyle factors
• Environmental factors
• Age

However, often an exact cause cannot be determined [1]. This is known as idiopathic infertility: an unexplained reduction in semen quality. 

While some factors may be out of your control, such as genetics, consuming the right nutrients may play a role in ensuring high sperm quality [1]. 

Which Vitamins Are Good for Male Fertility? 

Many vitamins have been studied for their potential effect on male fertility, often boasting powerful antioxidant properties. Here’s what you can expect to see in the ingredient’s list:

• Zinc
• Vitamin C
• Selenium
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B12
• Carnitine
• L-arginine
• Coenzyme Q10 (CQ10)
• Folic Acid

Many of these vitamins cannot be stored within your body, so you need to get enough of them through your diet  [1]. Supplementation may be beneficial to fill nutritional gaps.

How Do Men’s Preconception Vitamins Work?

Here are some of the proven benefits of male fertility supplements: 

1. Zinc supplementation has been proven to improve sperm morphology and DNA integrity in patients with prostate abnormalities [2].  
2. Dietary supplements containing antioxidant properties including vitamins C and E have been shown to positively affect inflammation of the male accessory glands [2]. Carnitine also plays a role in antioxidative stress and acts as an energy provider for sperm [3]. 
3. Studies have shown the CQ10, compared to a placebo, significantly improved sperm concentration and motility [3]. 

Clinicians suggest that dietary supplementation should be tailored to each patients’ specific fertility concern [2]. 

Best Preconception Vitamins for Men

Studies indicate that dietary supplements containing fewer ingredients often better meet the required dosage of beneficial micronutrients [2]. Conversely, some supplements containing long lists of ingredients do not contain a high enough concentration of primary essential nutrients - such as zinc- to be effective.

Some top product recommendations:

NaturoBest PreConception Multi for Men

• A premium multivitamin, multimineral and antioxidant clinically formulated for men. Contains zinc, CQ10, vitamins C, E and B12 and more to support healthy reproductive hormones and optimal sperm health. Click on the product to read more.

Blackmores Conceive Well Men

• A comprehensive antioxidant formula to support preconception health in men. Contains zinc, selenium, folic acid, CQ10 and essential vitamins in a once-a-day capsule form. Click on the product to read more. 

Side effects / Precautions / Interactions

For those wondering ‘Do men’s preconception vitamins have any side effects?’

As ingredients vary considerably amongst brands, there is no blanket answer. Excessive amounts of certain vitamins can have adverse effects, as most preconception vitamins are not recommended while on warfarin. 

Excessive amounts of zinc and vitamin C could lead to gastrointestinal disturbances. Side effects of high doses of dietary supplements could also include headaches, nausea, rash and blurred vision.

Vitamin E could interact with blood thinning, bile acid medications or weight loss drugs. Folic acid may interact with medications for seizures and some infections [4]. Consult your GP prior to consuming.

Selenium is toxic in high doses. Daily dose for an adult male should not exceed 150 micrograms. Some plant extracts included in dietary supplements can affect drug metabolism [2]. 

As comparative supplementation trials are lacking, it is difficult to determine an optimal treatment for male infertility [3]. Optimal dosage and length of treatment should be dependent on each candidates’ specific concerns. 

Top Tips to Boost Male Fertility

• Get Healthy: Diet and exercise are key
• Avoid direct heat such as laptops, which can elevate scrotal temperature
• Ditch the smokes
• Avoid alcohol
• Get some rest
• Consider a preconception vitamin or supplement 

If you’ve been trying to fall pregnant for 12 months it’s a good idea to speak to your general practitioner to determine any underlying causes of infertility. Read here for more information on how to test male fertility.

The Takeaway

Should men take preconception vitamins? 

Vitamins help fill nutritional gaps and support general health and wellbeing. Certain nutrients, including zinc, Coenzyme Q10, carnitine and antioxidant rich vitamins C, E and B12 have proven effective in supporting healthy sperm production and motility. 

Combining male fertility supplements with lifestyle changes could be the key to improving your fertility. Consult your GP for more information about whether supplements may be right for you.

References

[1] Forbes, 2023. A Guide to The Best Fertility Supplements and Vitamins for Men. https://www.forbes.com/health/mens-health/fertility-supplements-vitamins-for-men/

[2] Garolla A, Petre GC, Francini-Pesenti F, De Toni L, Vitagliano A, Di Nisio A, Foresta C., 2020. Dietary Supplements for Male Infertility: A Critical Evaluation of Their Composition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7284793/

[3] Li J, Et Al. Effects of Medicines and Supplements on Spontaneous Pregnancy and Semen Parameters in Male Infertility: A Systematic Review Update  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095809921003234 

[4] Medical News Today, 2018. Fertility Supplements, Do They Work?  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323573