Lycopene

Lycopene is a carotenoid found in high concentration in tomatoes and other red fruits, has been studied for its benefits on sperm health due to its antioxidant properties.

1. Antioxidant activity: Helps to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. Oxidative stress is a major factor contributing to sperm damage and male infertility. Several studies have demonstrated that lycopene supplementation can reduce oxidative stress in the testicles and improve sperm quality^1,2
2. Sperm count, motility, and quality: Research demonstrates that lycopene supplementation improves sperm concentration, motility, and morphology in men with fertility issues.^3,4
3. DNA Integrity: Studies published investigating the effects of lycopene supplementation on sperm DNA integrity in infertile men have demonstrated that lycopene supplementation leads to improvements in sperm DNA integrity, potentially reducing the risk of pregnancy losses and IVF failure.⁵

References:

1. Gharagozloo P, Aitken RJ. The role of sperm oxidative stress in male infertility and the significance of oral antioxidant therapy. Hum Reprod. 2011;26(7):1628-1640. doi:10.1093/humrep/der132
2. Durairajanayagam D, Agarwal A, Ong C, Prashast P. Lycopene and male infertility. Asian J Androl. 2014 May-Jun;16(3):420-5. doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.126384. PMID: 24675655; PMCID: PMC4023371.
3. Zareba P, Colaci DS, Afeiche M, et al. Semen quality in relation to antioxidant intake in a healthy male population. Fertil Steril. 2013;100(6):1572-1579. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.08.032
4. Gupta NP, Kumar R. Lycopene therapy in idiopathic male infertility--a preliminary report. Int Urol Nephrol. 2002;34(3):369-372. doi:10.1023/a:1024483520560
5. Zini A, San Gabriel M, Libman J. Lycopene supplementation in vitro can protect human sperm deoxyribonucleic acid from oxidative damage. Fertil Steril. 2010;94(3):1033-1036. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.04.004