Zinc is needed to make the outer layer and tail of the sperm and is, therefore, essential for the health of sperm. Interestingly, several studies have also shown that reducing zinc in a man's diet will also reduce his sperm count. [ x ]

A study published in Human Reproduction found that micronutrient intake affects male reproductive health. The study found that total folic acid intake is associated with a statistically significant reduction in frequency of sperm abnormalities in healthy males. There was no consistent relationships between intakes of zinc or the antioxidant vitamin C, vitamin E or beta-carotene on the frequencies of aneuploid sperm.  [ x ]

Selenium is an antioxidant that helps to protect the body from highly reactive chemical fragments called free radicals. For this reason, selenium can prevent chromosome breakage, which is known to be a cause of birth defects and miscarriages. Good levels of selenium are also essential to maximise sperm formation. Blood selenium levels have been found to be lower in men with low sperm counts. [ x ]

Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, and studies show that vitamin C enhances sperm quality, protecting sperm and the DNA within it from damage. Some research has indicated that certain types of DNA damage in the sperm can make it difficult to conceive in the first place, or it can cause an increased risk of miscarriage if conception does take place. If DNA is damaged, there may be a chromosomal problem in the baby, should the pregnancy proceed. Whether or not DNA damage does have these effects has not been conclusively proven, but it's worth taking vitamin C and the other antioxidants as a precautionary measure. [ x ]

Researchers at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, in Lima, Peru, performed a 12-week double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial in which active treatment with different doses of maca was compared with a placebo.  Men aged 21-56 years received 3000 mg of maca. An improvement in sexual desire was observed with maca at 8 weeks of treatment. Serum testosterone and estradiol levels were not different in men treated with maca than in those treated with placebo.

Another study was designed to determine the benefit of a 4-month oral treatment with tablets of maca on seminal analysis in adult normal men aged 24-44 years old.  Nine men received tablets of maca (1500 or 3000 mg/day) for 4 months. Serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, testosterone and estradiol levels were measured before and after treatment.

Treatment with maca resulted in increased seminal volume, sperm count per ejaculation, and sperm motility. Serum hormone levels were not altered.  [ x ]

Arginine supplementation is often, but not always, an effective treatment for male infertility. The critical determinant appears to be the level of sperm count. If sperm counts are less than 20 million/ml, arginine supplementation is less likely to be of benefit. Also, the dosage of arginine should be at least 4 grams(4000mg) per day for three months to be effective.

In one study, seventy-four percent of 178 men with low sperm counts were treated with 4 grams/day of arginine. They showed significant improvements in sperm counts and motility as a result of this therapy.  [ x ]

A deficiency of carnitine results in a decrease in fatty acid concentrations in the mitochondria and reduced energy production.  After ejaculation, the motility of sperm correlates directly with carnitine content. The higher the carnitine content, the more motile the sperm. Conversely, when carnitine levels are low, sperm development, function, and motility are drastically reduced.

In one clinical study, 37 of 47 men who had abnormal sperm mobility and given carnitine supplementation (1,000 mg three times daily) experienced an increase in sperm count and mobility.

Supplementing the diet with L-carnitine may help restore male fertility in some cases. Start by taking a dose of 250 to 500 milligrams of L-carnitine with breakfast. After one week, add a second dose, with lunch. After another week, add a third dose, so that you are taking 250 to 500 milligrams with each meal. Continue taking L-carnitine for three to four months.  [ x ]

In one study, supplementation with vitamin E decreased the level of lipid peroxide concentration in sperm pellet suspensions. Eleven of fifty-two treated infertile men impregnated their spouses.

Increasing the levels of vitamin E in men with low fertility resulted in improving the number and quality of sperm.  The sperm had improved mobility and were better able to attach to the unfertilized egg.

A report by Kessopoulou and colleagues offered the first solid, convincing proof of the vitamin's effectiveness. In this study, thirty men with low fertility were divided into two groups. For three months, one group took 600 lUs of vitamin E daily while the other took a placebo.  Sperm counts were measured and analyzed.

After a one-month rest period, the two groups changed routines. This time the group that had taken placebo pills took vitamin E, and vice versa.

For both stages of the test, sperm potency dramatically improved under the influence of vitamin E. Taking vitamin E supplement made sperm two and a half times as potent as they had been before supplementation began.

Another study, in Saudi Arabia, used a larger study group. Over one hundred couples unable to conceive due to low male fertility volunteered. In half of the group, males took daily vitamin E supplement, while the other half received a placebo. During the test period, none of the females in the placebo group became pregnant. By contrast, more than 20 percent of those in the vitamin E group conceived.  [ x ]

In one study, twenty-seven percent of men who had sperm counts under 20 million/ml were given 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 per day. As a result, their total sperm count increased in excess of 100 million/ml. In another study, fifty-seven percent of men with low sperm counts who were given 6,000 mcg of vitamin B12 per day demonstrated improvements.

In another study, a group of infertile men were given oral vitamin B12 supplements (1,500 mcg per day of methylcobalamin) for 2 to 13 months. Approximately 60% of those taking the supplement experienced improved sperm counts.  However, controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results. Men seeking vitamin B12 injections should consult a physician.   [ x ]