Does coenzyme Q10 improve semen quality and circulating testosterone level? a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 15, pp. 1497930
Abstract
Background Seminal oxidative stress has been shown to be a key factor in the development of male infertility. However, the benefits of infertility treatments with antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) remains controversial. Objectives The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on semen quality, i.e., semen volume, total sperm number, sperm concentration, total sperm motility, percentage of progressive sperm motility and sperm morphology. In addition, the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on circulating testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and inhibin B levels were evaluated. Design A systematic review and a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were performed to assess the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on semen quality and serum levels of male reproductive hormones. Methods We conducted a strategic literature search in the Cochrane, EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and collected only RCTs. The data in the collected RCTs were then meta-analyzed according to PRISMA guidelines. Results Out of 2,144 collected studies, only eight were classified eligible. The studies included a total of 877 male subjects; 462 CoQ10-treated and 415 untreated/placebo-treated. We found significantly higher total sperm counts (SMD -13.38 [95% CI: −16.33, −10.43] P< 0.0001), total (SMD -7.26 [95% CI: −10.15, −4.36] P< 0.00001) and progressive motility (SMD -6.386 [95% CI: −10.04, −2.73] P= 0.0006), and normally formed sperm (SMD -1.96 [95% CI: −3.29, −0.62] P= 0.004) in CoQ10-treated male subjects compared with untreated/placebo-treated male subjects. Nonetheless, there was a significant inter-study heterogeneity in these studies. Moreover, significantly higher serum testosterone (SMD -0.59 [95% CI: −0.79, −0.40] P< 0.00001) and inhibin B levels (SMD -0.92 [95% CI: −1.47, −0.37] P= 0.001) were recorded in CoQ10-treated subjects compared to untreated/placebo-treated subjects. In addition, CoQ10 supplementation significantly lowered serum LH (SMD 1.77 [95% CI: 1.26, 2.28] P< 0.00001) and FSH concentrations (SMD 1.60 [95% CI: 1.38, 1.81] P< 0.00001). Interestingly, there was no significant inter-study heterogeneity in the hormonal studies. However, CoQ10 supplementation had no significant effect on semen volume (SMD 0.12 [95% CI: −0.13, 0.37] P= 0.34) and sperm concentration (SMD -6.69 [95% CI: −16.28, 2.90] P= 0.17). Conclusion Our study shows that CoQ10 supplementation increases total sperm count, total and progressive sperm motility, and the proportion of normally formed sperm in association with higher serum testosterone and inhibin B levels. Our study therefore supports the view in the literature of a beneficial use of CoQ10 in male infertility treatment. However, further well-designed RCTs with sufficiently large numbers of subjects are required to reach a final conclusion.
Authors 19
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Agronomy, Osun State University, Ejigbo campus, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Affiliation as printed
Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine & Tissue Engineering 3D Lab, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Research Group for Experimental Surgery, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Babcock University · Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ilishan Remo, Ogun, Nigeria
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiological Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Osun, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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Affiliation as printed
Acrolytics LLC., Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Affiliation as printed
Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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University of Southern California
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Universidade Federal de São Paulo
Affiliation as printed
Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
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Roland Eghoghosoa Akhigbe corresponding
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo, Nigeria
Reproductive Biology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Oasis of Grace Hospital, Osogbo, Osun, Nigeria
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