It’s well known that women are advised to take prenatal vitamins during pregnancy to support fetal health and development. But what about men? Can male partners support a healthy pregnancy by taking supplements? Do male prenatal vitamins even exist? Here, we cover everything you need to know about prenatal vitamins for men.<\/span><\/p>\n Before we dive into whether men should take prenatal vitamins, let’s cover what prenatal vitamins actually are and why they’re important.<\/span><\/p>\n When a person becomes pregnant, their nutritional needs increase. Familiar with the old saying “eating for two”? That rings true, as the fetus needs certain nutrients to develop. While it’s technically possible for someone to get all the nutrients needed for proper fetal development through diet and lifestyle alone, it’s difficult to accomplish. This is where prenatal vitamins come in.<\/span><\/p>\n Prenatal vitamins are unlike traditional multivitamins because they’re specially formulated to meet the growing nutritional needs someone experiences during pregnancy. For example, pregnant women typically need greater quantities of iron, folate, and calcium in their diet to support fetal development.<\/span><\/p>\n There’s no wrong time to begin taking prenatal vitamins, but the ideal start date is three months <\/span>before<\/span><\/i> pregnancy. In the past, doctors advised patients to take prenatal vitamins as soon as they found out they were pregnant. Now, it’s generally recommended to start taking prenatal vitamins when you begin trying to conceive<\/a>, to prepare your body for pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n Research<\/span><\/a> shows that taking prenatal vitamins earlier can reduce the risk of neural and spinal birth defects. Prenatal vitamins may even improve female fertility. <\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a> show that taking nutritional supplements such as vitamins C, E, and A, folate, and zinc \u2014 all found in most prenatals \u2014 before pregnancy is associated with improved fertilization rate and shorter time to pregnancy. Also, because some people can be weeks along in their pregnancy before even realizing it, it’s a good idea to begin taking prenatal vitamins as soon as you begin trying.<\/span><\/p>\n So, if women are advised to take prenatal vitamins before they are pregnant to support fetal health and development, should their male partner also consider their health and nutrition? After all, 50% of a child’s genetic makeup comes from their biological father.<\/span><\/p>\n The quick answer is yes, but the ingredients are different. The point of male prenatals is to support male fertility and healthy sperm<\/a>, not to support a growing fetus. There are male fertility vitamins formulated with ingredients specific to sperm production, sexual function, and a healthy hormone profile.<\/span><\/p>\n Poor sperm health is associated with increased time to pregnancy, increased risk of infertility, and higher chances that you\u2019ll have to use advanced reproductive technology such as IVF to achieve a pregnancy. Sperm quality issues, such as <\/span>sperm DNA fragmentation<\/span><\/a>, could also have a negative impact on the health of your future child. For example, a strong correlation has been <\/span>found<\/span><\/a> between the development of retinoblastoma, childhood eye cancer, and DNA damage in paternal sperm.<\/span><\/p>\n While it’s critical for the partner carrying the pregnancy to take prenatal vitamins during the course of pregnancy, it’s key for the male partner to take nutritional supplements <\/span>before<\/span><\/i> conception. Spermatogenesis (sperm production) takes around 74 days, so it could be 2\u20133 months before a vitamin you\u2019ve added had a significant impact on your sperm health.<\/span><\/p>\n If you’re thinking of taking <\/span>male fertility supplements<\/span><\/a>, there are a few key ingredients you should be looking for.<\/span><\/p>\n Many of the ingredients found in male prenatals or fertility supplements are antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that protect our body\u2019s cells from the negative impact of free radicals or \u201creactive oxygen species\u201d (ROS).<\/span><\/p>\n ROS are created as a result of our body\u2019s daily processes and can be increased during times of illness, toxin exposure, or poor lifestyle. High levels of ROS \u2014 or ROS that go unchecked by antioxidants \u2014 can damage cells. This is a phenomenon known as \u201coxidative stress.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Oxidative stress has a detrimental impact on sperm health, especially sperm genetic health. Oxidative stress can cause sperm DNA fragmentation and, consequently, infertility.<\/span><\/p>\n Lowering oxidative stress can be accomplished by lowering the levels of ROS in the body \u2014 perhaps by quitting smoking or reducing exposure to toxins \u2014 or by increasing antioxidant intake through diet and supplementation. A good strategy to improve fertility includes both.<\/span><\/p>\n Coenzyme Q10 plays a key role in the body: it’s essential for our metabolism to function and also acts as a strong antioxidant. <\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a> also show that fertilization rates increase after several weeks of supplementation with CoQ10. Additionally, when <\/span>researchers<\/span><\/a> tested the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on infertile men, they found a significant increase in sperm motility<\/a> and fertilization rates.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to support your fertility, Legacy’s CoQ10 supplement comes packed with 100mg of high-absorption CoQ10 antioxidants per softgel, along with healthy plant-derived fats. Learn more about our <\/span><\/i>CoQ10 male fertility supplement<\/span><\/i><\/a> here.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Folate has been <\/span>shown<\/span><\/a> to play a critical role in reproductive health; it’s vital to the creation, maturation, and development of sperm. By boosting your folate levels, you may see an <\/span>increase<\/span><\/a> in sperm concentration \u2014 so be on the lookout for folate or folic acid in your male prenatal vitamins.<\/span><\/p>\n Although folate and folic acid are often used interchangeably, they are absorbed by the body differently. Folate is the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9. When you take in folate (such as when you eat spinach), your digestive system converts folate into an active form of vitamin B9, known as 5-MTHF.<\/span><\/p>\n Folic acid<\/span><\/a>, on the other hand, is a synthetic form of vitamin B9 that doesn’t convert as quickly into 5-MTHF because it must go through the liver. Therefore, you may end up with some unmetabolized folic acid in your body.<\/span><\/p>\n More recently, some vitamins use 5-MTHF or \u200bL-methylfolate, the active form of folate. This is the best form, as it\u2019s most bioavailable (meaning you can absorb the highest percentage of the vitamin) and <\/span>has been shown<\/span><\/a> to increase blood folate levels more efficiently than folic acid.<\/span><\/p>\n However, folic acid is often still the choice vitamin in many fortified foods and vitamins because it is more heat-stable than folate. And it has been <\/span>shown<\/span><\/a> to be effective in preventing neural tube defects and improving sperm health, regardless of the exact compound you take.<\/span><\/p>\n As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C can counteract oxidative stress and help protect sperm from damage. In one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, it was found that after two months of vitamin C supplementation, sperm count doubled, motility increased by 90%, and sperm morphology increased by 50%.<\/span><\/p>\n Vitamin E is another important antioxidant that helps protect sperm from free radical damage. This vitamin is typically combined with other supplements for impactful results. <\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a> have shown that vitamin E improves sperm motility, morphology, and genetic health when combined with other antioxidants like selenium or CoQ10.<\/span><\/p>\n Vitamin D \u2014 which is actually a hormone \u2014 is critical for increasing our body’s absorption of important nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and may play a role in male fertility. The interesting thing about vitamin D is that it’s not found in many foods. The best way to get vitamin D is from sun exposure, but getting enough through sun exposure alone isn’t possible for many people.<\/span><\/p>\n Although studies haven\u2019t yet pinpointed exactly <\/span>why<\/span><\/i> low vitamin D levels<\/span><\/a> are associated with lower semen parameters, we do know that increased consumption of vitamin D through supplementation can lead to <\/span>improved sperm quality<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n L-carnitine is a compound that supports metabolism in the body. Supplementation with L-carnitine has been <\/span>shown<\/span><\/a> to improve sperm quality and increase fertilization rates. Other <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> show that high concentrations of L-carnitine in the semen can even help protect sperm during cryopreservation. <\/span><\/p>\n D-AA is an amino acid that’s concentrated in some areas of the body, including the testicles and sperm cells. D-AA helps regulate testosterone release, suggesting that it may have powerful effects on male fertility. One <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> showed an increase in sperm concentration and motility after 90 days of D-AA supplementation, leading to an improvement in the rate of pregnancies in their partners.<\/span><\/p>\n Selenium, another antioxidant, has shown benefits to male fertility both when taken alone or when taken in combination with other nutrients. In one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, infertile men were prescribed 50 micrograms of selenium once a day for three months. As a result, testosterone levels and sperm count, motility, vitality, and morphology increased. In <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> where infertile men took selenium along with vitamin E, A, or C, overall sperm quality increased.<\/span><\/p>\n Studies<\/span><\/a> suggest that adding lycopene to your diet may improve sperm count, viability, quality, and genetic health, as well as pregnancy rates. As a powerful antioxidant, it can help protect your body from oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage while increasing sperm parameters. One <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> showed a significant increase in sperm concentration in men with oligozoospermia (low sperm count) when supplemented daily with 25mg of lycopene over a 12-week period.<\/span><\/p>\n Zinc, a nutrient involved in protein and DNA synthesis, is a critical player in male fertility. <\/span>Studies<\/span><\/a> show that infertile men have lower zinc concentration in their seminal plasma compared with healthy controls. And according to <\/span>multiple studies<\/span><\/a>, zinc supplementation has been associated with an increase in semen volume, sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology.<\/span><\/p>\n You should start taking male fertility supplements<\/a> as soon as you begin thinking of trying to start a family. It takes 2\u20133 months for <\/span>new sperm<\/span><\/a> to be produced, so you’ll need to be taking supplements for at least that amount of time before you\u2019ll see the results in your fertility.<\/span><\/p>\n If you’re thinking of starting a family, a good first step is getting a <\/span>sperm analysis<\/span><\/a>. That way, you know the state of your sperm health, and can get insight into which parameters may need improvement. For example, you may have high sperm concentration but low motility. In that case, you should focus on lifestyle changes and supplements that are shown to specifically improve motility.<\/span><\/p>\n You can get a sperm analysis<\/a> and a fertility clinician’s guidance without ever leaving home with Legacy’s <\/span>at-home sperm analysis kit<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nTakeaways:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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What are prenatal vitamins?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Should a man take prenatal vitamins?<\/span><\/h2>\n
What to look for in male prenatal vitamins<\/span><\/h2>\n
Understanding antioxidants<\/span><\/h3>\n
CoQ10<\/span><\/h3>\n
Folate or folic acid<\/span><\/h3>\n
Folate vs. folic acid vs. 5-MTHF<\/span><\/h4>\n
Vitamin C<\/span><\/h3>\n
Vitamin E<\/span><\/h3>\n
Vitamin D<\/span><\/h3>\n
L-carnitine<\/span><\/h3>\n
D-aspartic acid (D-AA)<\/span><\/h3>\n
Selenium<\/span><\/h3>\n
Lycopene<\/span><\/h3>\n
Zinc<\/span><\/h3>\n
When to take male prenatal vitamins<\/span><\/h2>\n
What else can I do to increase my chances of conceiving?<\/span><\/h2>\n