Vitamins and micronutrients with antioxidant properties
Dietary antioxidants include
tabletki na powiększenie penisa vitamins A , C and E , as well as micronutrients with antioxidant properties such as folate , zinc and selenium . There are also many endogenous antioxidants ( antioxidants produced by the body ) including glutathione , bilirubin acid and uric acid . Antioxidants protect DNA and other cell components from oxidative damage ( damage caused by reactions with unstable oxygen atoms ) which may otherwise cause apoptosis ( cell death ). As healthy DNA is vital to the development of healthy sperm cells , antioxidants enhance sperm health indirectly by improving the quality of the DNA and other cell components from which they form .
As well as affecting developing sperm , antioxidants also influence the fertilising capacity of mature sperm because they scavenge reactive oxygen species ( species attached to unstable oxygen atoms ) which may otherwise cause oxidative damage to the mature sperm cells . Mature sperm cells are coated with very thin membranes consisting mainly of fatty acids . These thin membranes enable the cells to be highly fluid ( and thus to “ swim ” up the vaginal tract in search of an egg following ejaculation during intercourse ). However , because the membrane is very thin it is also highly susceptible to oxidative damage which can affect sperm maturation , the motility of mature sperm ( ability to move ) and also sperm ’ s acrosome reaction ( the reaction of the head of the sperm when it comes into contact with an egg ).
Elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species in seminal fluid is an indicator of male infertility , even if the seminal fluid contains sufficient concentration of sperm and all other semen parameters are normal . Antioxidants therefore play an important role in maintaining sperm health by preventing oxidative stress ( an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant concentrations ), which is thought to be the underlying cause in about half of all cases of male factor infertility .
Which nutritional supplements improve sperm health ?
Numerous studies have now been conducted examining the influence of nutritional supplements on various semen parameters which are indicators of how healthy a man ’ s sperm is . However , evidence regarding the impact of nutritional supplements on measures of fertility ( the man ’ s capacity to fertilise a woman ’ s egg ) is more limited .
Antioxidants
There is some evidence that antioxidant intake or supplements influences semen parameters . Several studies have reported associations between antioxidant intake or oxidative stress ( excessive quantities of reactive oxygen species which can cause oxidative damage ) in seminal fluid and other semen parameters . For example , one study reported that very high total intake ( above the recommended daily intake ) of the antioxidants vitamin C , E and β-carotene was significantly associated with greater concentration and quantity of sperm in seminal fluid and also improved sperm motility ( movement ). However , the study found that these improvements only occurred in men with very high antioxidant intake and men with normal antioxidant intake did not have improved semen quality compared to men with low antioxidant intake .
Numerous studies have also reported associations between the concentration of reactive oxygen species in seminal fluid and sperm motility and / or normal morphology ( shape ). These studies