Latest News

  • Home
  • Food & Health
  • Male fertility supplements made with zinc and folic acid do nothing to help sperm count or quality
Male fertility supplements made with zinc and folic acid do nothing to help sperm count or quality
Friday, January 10, 2020 IST
Male fertility supplements made with zinc and folic acid do nothing to help sperm count or quality

A recent study published in the medical journal JAMA found that zinc and folic acid supplements marketed to help improve male fertility actually do nothing to improve sperm quality or count. 
Half of the survey group of 2,380 men took supplements containing zinc and folic acid for six months, and study authors concluded that there were no significant differences between their sperm before and after the trial.
Many supplements claim to have unfounded health benefits, and have been called a waste of money by nutritionists and doctors alike. 

 
 

 
Male infertility is an often-invisible part of the growing conversation around infertility, which impacts 15% of couples in the US, according to the Mayo Clinic. 
 
But many of the common supplements marketed towards those struggling with male fertility issues may not help at all.
 
Zinc and folic acid have long been marketed as a way to treat male infertility, but a recent study published in the medical journal JAMA found that supplements containing these ingredients do nothing to improve sperm quality or count. 
 
Researchers had a group of men take supplements containing zinc and folic acid for half a year to see if it would improve the quality or count of their sperm.
 
The six-month trial surveyed 2,380 men who sought infertility treatments after their partners had trouble getting pregnant. Half of the group received the actual supplement, while the other half took a placebo. 
 
While 35% of the men did become fathers throughout the course of the trial, semen analysis showed that there was no significant difference between their sperm before and after the six months.
 
"This trial's findings do not support the use of folic acid and zinc supplementation in male partners to improve semen quality and couples' infertility treatment outcomes," the study said. "This report addresses the long-standing need for a rigorous large-scale trial to examine the effects of folic acid and zinc supplementation on semen quality."
 
 
Many supplements have been called a waste of money by nutritionists and doctors alike
 
This isn't the first time that doctors have found supplements ineffective in solving the problems they claim to help. 
 
Probiotic supplements are supposed to help with digestion but don't actually do much for people who take them.
 
In addition to being a nuisance to your wallet, over-the-counter supplements can also be detrimental to health. 
 
A study published in March 2019 found that vitamin D supplements can actually increase the overall risk for cancer and death in people who take them and have no vitamin D deficiencies. 
 
The same study found that taking calcium supplements can lead to an excess of calcium and an increased risk of cancer. 
 
The supplement industry is also almost entirely unregulated, making it difficult to separate legitimate and supplements from ones that do nothing or even harm people who take them.

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
12 Early Signs Of Lung Cancer To Never Ignore

Lung cancer is usually not noticeable during the early stages. Most people are diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. According to Cancer.org, it is ...

Recently posted . 7K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
11 Surprising Benefits Of Wood Apple Or Bael Fruit

The health benefits of wood apple include [1] relief from constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, piles, respiratory problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. It also b...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
10 Amazing Benefits Of Bael (Kaitha)

Bael, also known as the “Wood Apple”, is a species native to India. The bael tree is considered to be sacred to the Hindus. A famous drink known as sh...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
These 7 Remedies Can Remove The Milia (Milk Spots) From Your Face

Do you know what milia are? Milia is a skin condition which causes the appearance of small white hard bumps on the skin which usually appear on the face, neck or ch...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Food & Health

 Article
Govt to scale up its tobacco cessation helpline before the new tobacco warnings

There are plans to link the floundering SMS smoking cessation service to the helpline to give people the option of also receiving counselling through text message...

Recently posted. 844 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
11 Superfoods You Need to Build Muscle and Lose Fat – and They’re Not Just Protein

Building muscle is extremely important for everyone to maintain optimal health. We don’t need massive amounts of muscle like a bodybuilder, but a good quali...

Recently posted. 906 views . 2 min read
 

 Article
’Tis the season for hangovers: What happens to your body when you drink too much

When you are sober, a shot seems like a good idea. When you are drunk, it seems even better.

Recently posted. 802 views . 0 min read
 

 Reviews
5 Best Televisions Online in India 2018



Recently posted . 1K views . 86 min read
 

 Article
Cut Your Waistline And Electricity Bill With This Energy Generating Treadmill

One of the main features of CES 2019 was the Verde G690 Treadmill, courtesy of SportsArt. Instead of it being your everyday treadmill that you see in gyms, this tre...

Recently posted. 797 views . 2 min read
 

 Article
Scientists Explain What Happens To Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every Day

Not only does coffee keep a lot of us sane, but it contains so many health benefits that we question why you wouldn’t want to drink it if you don’t alre...

Recently posted. 1K views . 2 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

“Smiling doesn’t necessarily mean you’re happy. Sometimes it just means you are strong.”
Anonymous

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top