Meta AnalysisHumann = 296 (149 CoQ10, 147 placebo)2013
Coenzyme Q10 and male infertility: a meta-analysis.
Plain-language summary
This meta-analysis set out to see if coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements improve male fertility, focusing on live birth and pregnancy rates, sperm concentration, and sperm motility. It pooled data from three trials involving 296 men with infertility, comparing those taking CoQ10 to those on a placebo. The study found no evidence that CoQ10 increased pregnancy or live birth rates, but it did show improvements in sperm concentration and motility. The authors call for larger, more robust trials to confirm these findings and explore combination therapies.
Key findings
- CoQ10 supplementation did not increase pregnancy rates in infertile men.
- CoQ10 was linked to higher sperm concentration and motility.
- None of the three trials reported live births at all, so the effect on live births is unknown rather than absent.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Meta-analyses pool data from multiple studies to spot patterns, but they rely on the quality and design of the included trials.
- Population
- Men with infertility, from three trials.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Takeaway
- This study found that CoQ10 improved sperm concentration and motility. If you are trying to conceive, it may be worth asking your doctor about CoQ10 as part of a broader fertility plan.