Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Mar;59(2):825-833.
doi: 10.1007/s00394-019-02091-5. Epub 2019 Oct 8.

A randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of lactolycopene on semen quality in healthy males

Elizabeth A Williams  1 , Madeleine Parker  2 , Aisling Robinson  2 , Sophie Pitt  2 , Allan A Pacey  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized placebo-controlled trial to investigate the effect of lactolycopene on semen quality in healthy males

Elizabeth A Williams et al. Eur J Nutr. 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: Poor sperm quality is a major contributor to infertility in heterosexual couples, but at present there are few empirical therapies. Several studies have examined the role of dietary factors and data from randomized controlled trials suggest that oral antioxidant therapy can improve some sperm parameters. Health benefits of lycopene supplementation have been proposed for a variety of health conditions and here we examine whether it can help improve sperm quality. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 14 mg daily lactolycopene for 12 weeks on semen quality in healthy men.

Methods: Sixty healthy male participants were recruited and randomized to this double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel study and received either 14 mg/d lactolycopene or a placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was a change in motile sperm concentration. Secondary endpoints were all other aspects of sperm quality, including the level of sperm DNA damage.

Results: Fifty-six men completed the intervention and the level of plasma lycopene was significantly increased in the men randomized to receive lycopene supplementation. There was no significant change in the primary endpoint (motile sperm concentration) post-intervention (p = 0.058). However, the proportion of fast progressive sperm (p = 0.006) and sperm with normal morphology (p < 0.001) did improve significantly in response to lactolycopene intervention.

Conclusions: Supplementation with 14 mg/d lactolycopene improves sperm motility and morphology in young healthy men.

Clinical trial registry number and website: ISRCTN33248724 http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN33248724.

Keywords: Fertility; Lactolycopene; Sperm morphology; Sperm motility.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The researchers were responsible for the study design, data collection, data analysis, decision to publish and preparation of the manuscript. Cambridge Nutraceuticals Ltd had no part in the design, delivery, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of the data, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. For the avoidance of doubt, the company’s only involvement in the study was the supply of the product for the purpose of the study and part funding of the study. Cambridge Nutraceuticals Ltd funded half of the running costs for this trial and also provided the lactolycopene and placebo treatments free of charge. The remainder of the running costs and the researchers who conducted the trial were funded via The University of Sheffield. This research was carried out at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Sheffield Clinical Research Facility. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Cambridge Nutraceuticals Ltd, the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Consort flow chart of study. CONSORT consolidated standards of reporting trials
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Boivin J, Bunting L, Collins JA, Nygren KG. International estimates of infertility prevalence and treatment-seeking: potential need and demand for infertility medical care. Hum Reprod (Oxford, England) 2007;22(6):1506–1512. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dem046. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Pacey A. Sperm, human fertility and society. In: Birkhead T, Hosken DSP, editors. Sperm biology: an evolutionary perspective. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2009. pp. 565–597.
    1. World Health Organization . WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. 5. Geneva: Switzerland; 2010.
    1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Fertility problems: assessment and treatment. (NICE clinical guideline 156). www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156. Accessed 17 Sept 2019 - PubMed
    1. Cherry N, Moore H, McNamee R, Pacey A, Burgess G, Clyma JA, Dippnall M, Baillie H, Povey A. Occupation and male infertility: glycol ethers and other exposures. Occup Environ Med. 2008;65(10):708–714. doi: 10.1136/oem.2007.035824. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types