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Pharmacy Links

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR FERTILITY: ZINC

April 23, 2009

Zinc is the most widely studied nutrient in terms of fertility for both men and women. It is an essential component of genetic material, and a zinc deficiency can cause chromosome changes in either the man or the woman, leading to reduced fertility and an increased risk of miscarriages.

Zinc is necessary for the body to attract and hold the reproductive hormones, oestrogen and progesterone.

Zinc also plays a vital role in cell division so it is especially important that adequate levels are available at the time of conception. When couples go for IVF treatment, and the egg has been fertilised, the doctors have to wait until it divides sufficiently before it is put back in the woman. If the cell division is inadequate then that fertilised egg will not be used. This same cell division takes place during natural conception and it also requires good levels of zinc. If levels are not optimum, then it not only makes it difficult to conceive but there are also risks of having a baby with low birth weight, malformations or poor development of the brain and nervous system.

Zinc deficiency can block the absorption of folic acid so having a deficiency of one nutrient can lead to deficiencies in other nutrients. This is why getting a good intake of a number of nutrients is so important.

Zinc is also vital for your partner because it is crucial for the proper development of sperm. We know this because when young animals are fed a zinc-deficient diet they can produce abnormal sperm. For example, 60 day-old mice were found to be sterile after only three weeks of being fed a zinc-deficient diet.

Studies carried out in the 1980s showed that zinc deficiency in men causes a temporary but reversible reduction in sperm count and a reduced testosterone level. And this reduction in testosterone level has since been confirmed by other studies.

Giving zinc to men with low testosterone levels raises the hormone to a more normal level and increases the sperm count. In one study some men had an increase of 150 per cent in their sperm count, and in nine cases out of 22 their partners conceived while they were taking the zinc.

Simply comparing men with low sperm counts to men with normal sperm counts has shown that serum (blood) zinc levels and seminal zinc levels are significantly lower in infertile men.

With each ejaculation, men lose up to 9 per cent of their daily zinc intake. So it is crucial that your partner keeps up a good daily intake of zinc.

Clearly, zinc should be taken as a supplement if there is any problem with sperm count or quality. You and your partner should also include sources of zinc, such as oats, rye, whole-wheat, almonds, pumpkin seeds and peas, in your diet.

Symptoms of zinc deficiency include:

• white spots on nails

• low sperm count

• poor sense of taste

• poor sense of smell

You should take 30mg zinc a day.

Your partner should take 30mg zinc a day.

*46/73/5*

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