The Benefits of CoQ10 in the Treatment of Infertility
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Last September 2011 Dr. Robert Casper, a Canadian researcher presented a research paper at the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) meeting. Casper’s team gave half of a group of middle-aged mice co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and the other half a placebo. Next, they compared eggs retrieved from both groups of mice with eggs from 10-week-old mice (young).
The middle-aged mice that received CoQ10 had more eggs and better quality eggs than those that received a placebo. CoQ10 is an antioxidant which may work to prevent damage to eggs related to age.
If it works in humans as it did in mice it’s possible to slow down the effect of age on fertility, meaning allow women to retain their eggs longer and those eggs could be of better quality.
It may also improve the availability of mitochondrial energy production for the maturing oocyte and developing embryo thereby reducing the rate of chromosomal non disjunction and thereby improving implantation.
It is also shown to improve sperm motility in men and there have been a number of recent studies published.
In sperm cells, the majority of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) an energy promoting agent and antioxidant, is concentrated in the mitochondria of the midpiece, so that the energy for movement and all other energy-dependent processes in the sperm cell also depend on the availability of CoQ10.
The reduced form of CoQ10-ubiquinol also acts as an antioxidant, preventing lipid peroxidation in sperm membranes.
The dose is 600mg daily and is available at health food stores and pharmacies without a prescription.
Resources:
Dr. Beth Taylor, MD, FRCSC Genesis Fertility Clinic Blog
Study “The effect of coenzyme Q10 on sperm motility and function.” Lewin A, Lavon Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
