Meta AnalysisHumann = 2,600 cases and 867 controls2016
Zinc levels in seminal plasma and their correlation with male infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Plain-language summary
This study set out to see whether zinc in semen is linked to male infertility and whether zinc supplements improve sperm. It pooled 20 studies, comparing zinc levels and sperm quality between infertile men and fertile controls, and looked at what zinc supplements did to sperm measures. Infertile men had lower zinc in their semen than fertile men. Zinc supplements raised semen volume, sperm movement and the share of normally shaped sperm. A lower level in infertile men does not by itself establish that low zinc caused the infertility.
Key findings
- Men with infertility had lower zinc in their semen than fertile men. A relationship was found and it held across the 20 studies.
- Zinc supplements raised semen volume, sperm movement and the share of normally shaped sperm.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Meta-analyses pool data from multiple studies to find patterns, but they rely on the quality and consistency of the original studies, which can vary.
- Population
- The study included infertile men and healthy controls.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Takeaway
- This study found that men with infertility had lower zinc in their semen than fertile men, and that zinc supplements raised semen volume, sperm movement and the share of normally shaped sperm. If you are working on fertility, it may be worth asking your doctor about zinc and having your level checked before you start.