Omega-3 fatty acids have been well studied for their impact on sperm and male fertility:
- Reduces sperm DNA damage: Research has shown that men taking omega-3 fatty acids have significant decreased sperm DNA damage and this was directly proportional to the number of weeks of treatment1.
- Improves sperm concentration: A randomized trial showed that men taking Omega-3 fatty acids daily for 8 months had their sperm concentration improve from 15 million/cc to 28 million/cc, i.e. almost doubled!2
- Enhanced sperm membrane integrity: Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are structural components of cell membranes and the successful fertilization of sperm depends on the lipids of the sperm membrane3,4.
References:
1. Martinez-Soto J., Domingo J., Cordobilla B., Palbero L., Pellicer A., Landeras J. Effect of dietary DHA supplementation on sperm DNA integrity. Fertil. Steril. 2010;94:S235–S236. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.07.914.
2. Safarinejad MR. Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on semen profile and enzymatic anti-oxidant capacity of seminal plasma in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study. Andrologia. 2011 Feb;43(1):38-47. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2009.01013.x. Epub 2010 Dec 19. PMID: 21219381.
3. Safarinejad MR, Safarinejad S. The roles of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in idiopathic male infertility. Asian J Androl. 2012;14(4):514-515. doi:10.1038/aja.2012.46
4. Lenzi A, Gandini L, Maresca V, Rago R, Sgro P, et al. Fatty acid composition of spermatozoa and immature germ cells. Mol Hum Reprod. 2000;6:226–31
