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Male infertility: lifestyle factors and holistic, complementary, and alternative therapies.

Asian journal of andrology
January 1, 2016
David F Yao et al. (2 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Extracted Claims (21)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
weight reduction by diet and exercise
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
sufficient literature to support
#1
smoking cessation
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
sufficient literature to support
#2
alcohol moderation
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
sufficient literature to support
#3
aescin
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#4
coenzyme Q 10
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#5
glutathione
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#6
Korean red ginseng
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#7
L-carnitine
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#8
nigella sativa
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#9
omega-3
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#10
selenium
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#11
combination of zinc and folate
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#12
Menevit antioxidant
increase
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
demonstrated positive effects
#13
Vitamin C
no change
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
no support for the use
#14
Vitamin E
no change
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
no support for the use
#15
saffron
no change
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
no support for the use
#16
Chinese herbal medications
neutral
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
data are sparse or inconclusive
#17
acupuncture
neutral
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
data are sparse or inconclusive
#18
mind-body practice
neutral
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
data are sparse or inconclusive
#19
scrotal cooling
neutral
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
data are sparse or inconclusive
#20
faith-based healing
neutral
male fertility
male infertility patients
-
data are sparse or inconclusive
#21
Abstract

While we may be comfortable with an allopathic approach to male infertility, we are also responsible for knowledge about lifestyle modifications and holistic, complementary, and alternative therapies that are used by many of our patients. This paper provides an evidence-based review separating fact from fiction for several of these therapies. There is sufficient literature to support weight reduction by diet and exercise, smoking cessation, and alcohol moderation. Supplements that have demonstrated positive effects on male fertility on small randomized controlled trial (RCT) include aescin, coenzyme Q 10 , glutathione, Korean red ginseng, L-carnitine, nigella sativa, omega-3, selenium, a combination of zinc and folate, and the Menevit antioxidant. There is no support for the use of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, or saffron. The data for Chinese herbal medications, acupuncture, mind-body practice, scrotal cooling, and faith-based healing are sparse or inconclusive.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Acupuncture TherapyAntioxidantsCarnitineComplementary TherapiesCryotherapyDietary SupplementsDrugs, Chinese HerbalEscinFaith HealingFatty Acids, Omega-3GlutathioneHumansInfertility, MaleLife StyleMaleMedicine, Chinese TraditionalMicronutrientsNigella sativaObesityPanaxSeleniumUbiquinoneZinc
Study Links
PubMed ID26952957
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