Did you know that vitamin C increases sperm quality and mobility? It increases the chance of conception and if a pregnancy does take place, there is evidence to suggest that pregnant women supplemented with vitamin C have less miscarriages and less traumatic birth experiences.
In one study, 30 infertile men were given 1000 mg of vitamin C daily, or a placebo. They were then tested for sperm count, motility, abnormality and immaturity. After a week, the supplemented group showed a 140% increase in sperm count, whereas the placebo group showed no change.
By the end of 2 months, all of the vitamin supplemented men had impregnated their wives. The study concluded that vitamin C can be effective at treating male infertility.
Other vitamins can also be helpful, such as vitamin B12. Men who are short on this particular vitamin can suffer from poor motility (where the sperm don't swim very well) so it is thought that taking this vitamin may improve the problem.
If low testosterone is the cause, zinc may help. 37 infertile men were given 60mgs of zinc a day for six weeks. In 22 men with low testosterone, their sperm counts increased dramatically as well as their testosterone levels and 9 out of the 22 spouses became pregnant during the study.
If you wish to try the vitamin therapy approach naturally without the use of tablets, zinc is present in whole grains, nuts and seeds. Vitamin C is in things like oranges, strawberries and sweet potatoes (sweet potatoes have a higher concentration of vitamins than ordinary potatoes), vitamin B12 is in butter, margarine, eggs and some breakfast cereals.
A whole food vegetarian or vegan diet without processed foods is the best way of getting these vitamins and making use of this type of therapy.
If you want to try the professional route, there are many alternative and medical practitioners who can advise you on a pre-conceptional diet.
