Recovery of sperm quality after COVID‐19 disease in male adults under the influence of a micronutrient combination: A prospective study

Submitted: January 15, 2023
Accepted: January 29, 2023
Published: March 13, 2023
Abstract Views: 1462
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Objective: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a standard micronutrient preparation to improve semen parameters and seminal oxidative stress in adult male subjects after Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease.

Methods: For this prospective pilot study, 30 males aged 20-50 years who had recently recovered from a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited from June to October 2021 through a public call for participation. Participants of the study group (n = 30) received two semen analyses according to WHO criteria at an interval of 12 weeks, during which they daily received a micronutrient preparation (L-carnitine, L-arginine, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, zinc, folic acid, glutathione and selenium). Changes in major semen variables and seminal oxidative stress levels before and after therapy were analyzed and compared to a control group (n = 10) adhering to the same inclusion criteria, including subjects who recently recovered from symptomatic COVID-19 disease without micronutrient supplementation within the 12 weeks between the two semen analyses.

Results: After 3 months of micronutrient supplementation the rate of normal semen analysis results in the study group increased significantly (p = 0.009) by 66.7%: from 50.0% before to 83.3% after therapy. There was a significant increase in progressive (p = 0.014) and overall motility (p = 0.05) as well as in the vitality (p = 0.0004) of semen cells after 12 weeks of micronutrient intake. In the control group there were no significant changes in any semen parameter or in the rate of normal semen analysis results over the 3-month observation period. In both groups, sperm density, morphology and oxidative stress did not improve significantly.

Conclusions: Our data suggests that supplementation of certain micronutrients may be a safe way to support recovery of impaired semen parameters in male adults recovered from COVID-19 disease.

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Judith Aschauer, Karl Landsteiner Society, Institute for Cell-focused Therapy, Korneuburg; Medical University of Vienna, Vienna

After receiving her Bachelors degree in chemistry in 2017, Judith Aschauer started to study medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, from which she will graduate in June 2023. Since the beginning of her studies she has been working at the semen analysis laboratory of the IMI fertility clinic in Vienna. This clinic also serves as an important research site for the independent medical-scientific research institution "Karl Landsteiner Society". Judith Aschauer has participated in the planning, execution and publication of various studies regarding factors influencing male fertility and possibilities to improve semen quality, which is content of her graduate thesis at the Medical University of Vienna. The Karl Landsteiner Society currently comprising 65 Institutes covering almost all fields of medicine.

Martin Imhof, Karl Landsteiner Society, Institute for Cell-focused Therapy, Korneuburg

Univ. Prof. Martin Imhof (M.D., Ph.D.)

Medical studies in Vienna (-1993). Residency at the Univ. Dep. for Heart- and Thoracic Surgery, General Surgrey and Gynaecology/Obstetric, Member of the In Vitro Fertilisation Team, 2004 Specialist for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2006 Venia Docendi, 2009

Head of Department and Medical Director at the General Public Teaching Hospital Korneuburg/Vienna. Head of Karl Landsteiner Institute for Cell-Focussed Therapy. Scientific activities: Umbilical Stem Cells, Ovarian Tissue Banking, Tumor therapy with Dendritic Cells, Micronutrients and Phytohormones in fertility.

How to Cite

Aschauer, J., Sima, M., & Imhof, M. (2023). Recovery of sperm quality after COVID‐19 disease in male adults under the influence of a micronutrient combination: A prospective study. Archivio Italiano Di Urologia E Andrologia, 95(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2023.11157