Supplements
coenzyme Q10 improves sperm parameters
In plain terms: Does CoQ10 improve sperm quality?
Strong support Supplements
Part of: 🧪 coenzyme Q10
RefutedContestedStrong support
consensus score 0.72
Yes for the lab numbers—it consistently raises sperm concentration and motility, though whether that means more pregnancies is far less certain.
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: All trials, pooled (Meta-analysis)
MechanismIn-vitroAnimalObservationalRCTMeta-analysis
How the studies fall
17 support 0 contradict 0 tested null 7 mixed · 24 sources, 17 independent groups
What the evidence shows
Across multiple network meta-analyses in idiopathic/subfertile men, CoQ10 consistently improves sperm parameters — especially concentration and forward motility, often ranking among the top antioxidants.
The evidence (24)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurhadi P et al 2025 · study_type: animal | animal | supports | moderate | 36 mice in a cryptorchidism model given CoQ10 (5/10/20 mg/kg) post-orchidopexy; the 20 mg/kg group had significantly greater sperm concentration and motility than the untreated cryptorchidism group, with reduced oxidative stress markers. |
| Sumbalová Z et al 2024 · study_type: observational | observational | mixed | low | Pilot study in infertile men measuring platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics and endogenous CoQ10 levels; found reduced endogenous CoQ10 and mitochondrial complex I function in infertile men, with sperm head/midpiece abnormalities correlatin |
| Mutluay D et al 2026 · study_type: animal | animal | supports | moderate | 42 mice given glyphosate herbicide +/- CoQ10 (200 mg/kg/day, 35 days); CoQ10 co-treatment restored sperm concentration, motility, morphology, viability, and membrane integrity impaired by glyphosate, alongside redox pathway normalization. |
| Michaelsen et al. 2025 · Nutrients | meta-analysis | mixed | high | SR/MA of dietary supplements on male infertility incl. pregnancy/live-birth: sperm-parameter gains clearer than hard fertility outcomes (live birth evidence weaker). |
| Nazari R et al 2026 · study_type: animal | animal | supports | moderate | 80 rats given levofloxacin +/- CoQ10 (10 mg/kg/day, 4 weeks); CoQ10 co-treatment groups showed sperm count, motility, morphology, and viability comparable to controls, protecting against levofloxacin-induced reductions. |
| Akhigbe et al. 2024 · Front Pharmacol | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | SR/MA of RCTs: CoQ10 improved semen quality parameters (and circulating testosterone) vs control. |
| Su et al. 2022 · Adv Nutr | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | Bayesian NMA (18 RCTs, n=1790): CoQ10 increased sperm concentration (MD +5.95) — highest-ranked antioxidant (SUCRA 79.4%); also improved motility. |
| Higazy A et al 2026 · study_type: RCT | RCT | supports | high | Placebo-controlled double-blind RCT, 200 men with idiopathic OAT (174 completed), CoQ10 monotherapy vs L-carnitine vs combined vs placebo for 3 months; CoQ10 monotherapy produced highly significant improvement in all semen parameters and DN |
| Derbyshire EJ et al 2026 · study_type: mechanism | mechanism | supports | low | Narrative position paper on Ubiquinol (reduced CoQ10) in fertility; concludes Ubiquinol appears to enhance mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant defense in gametes, aiding sperm function, though framed as mechanistic reasoning rat |
| Li et al. 2022 · Front Endocrinol | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | NMA of antioxidants for idiopathic male infertility: CoQ10 among agents improving sperm quality parameters. |
| Chen et al. 2023 · Aging (Albany NY) | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | NMA of non-pharmaceutical interventions: CoQ10 among agents significantly improving sperm forward motility (MD +5.28). |
| Shahid et al. 2021 · Front Pharmacol | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | NMA of pharmacological interventions for male infertility: CoQ10 among effective agents for semen parameters. |
| Fadhil et al. 2023 · F1000Res | RCT | supports | low | RCT: CoQ10 adjuvant to letrozole improved spermiogram results and sex-hormone levels. |
| d10-1093-humrep-deag083-126 2026 · Human Reproduction | observational | mixed | low | Conference-abstract narrative on antioxidants in OAT; cites systematic reviews/Cochrane data suggesting AOX (including CoQ10) may raise pregnancy/live-birth odds, but explicitly notes the large MOXI trial 'failed to demonstrate significant |
| Akhtar MF et al 2026 · study_type: animal | animal | mixed | low | 30 male donkeys fed CoQ10 (ubiquinol) for 56 days; improved plasma reproductive hormones (T, FSH, LH, AMH) with authors concluding feeding CoQ10 'may improve donkey semen quality' but semen parameters themselves not directly quantified in t |
| Fu D et al 2026 · Frontiers in Nutrition | observational | supports | moderate | Retrospective analysis of 380 men with varicocele; higher dietary antioxidant tertile (incl. CoQ10) associated with higher sperm concentration and motility; regression showed CoQ10 was a strong predictor of sperm concentration specifically |
| Ma & Sun 2022 · Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci | RCT | supports | low | RCT: CoQ10 + vitamin E improved sperm parameters/hormones in idiopathic infertility (vs L-carnitine comparator). |
| Bakri et al. 2025 · World J Mens Health | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | SR/MA of RCTs in idiopathic male infertility: CoQ10 improves semen parameters vs placebo; dose/formulation/duration explored. |
| Alahmar & Sengupta 2021 · Biol Trace Elem Res | RCT | supports | moderate | RCT (idiopathic OAT, n=70): CoQ10 200 mg/d increased sperm concentration, progressive/total motility and antioxidant capacity. |
| Al-Maatheedi MS et al 2026 · study_type: animal | animal | supports | moderate | Male rats exposed to SiO2 nanoparticles given oral CoQ10; CoQ10 significantly improved sperm shape, motility, and count vs. SiO2-only group, alongside preserved testosterone/LH and reduced oxidative markers. |
| Ajayi AF et al 2026 · study_type: observational | observational | mixed | low | Narrative synthesis (2000-2025) on oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant therapy incl. CoQ10 among vitamins C/E, selenium, zinc, carnitine; states antioxidants 'have shown potential' improving semen parameters but 'clinical outcomes r |
| Ramgir-Naidu S et al 2026 · study_type: mechanism | mechanism | mixed | low | Scoping/narrative review of nutrition-fertility molecular mechanisms; states CoQ10 facilitates mitochondrial electron transport and inhibits sperm DNA oxidative damage mechanistically, 'although clinical benefits are not consistently demons |
| Safaeinezhad A et al 2025 · study_type: animal | animal | supports | low | 20 rats (n=5/group) exposed to Wi-Fi radiofrequency +/- CoQ10 (150 mg/kg/day, 2 months); CoQ10 significantly increased sperm concentration, viability, and motility vs. Wi-Fi-only group, plus higher testosterone and fewer arrested seminifero |
| Niu C et al 2025 · study_type: meta-analysis | meta-analysis | mixed | high | Systematic review + network meta-analysis, 16 studies, men with unexplained infertility; CoQ10 gave the largest increase in sperm concentration (SMD 2.98, 95% CI 1.13-7.87) vs placebo, while L-carnitine was best for progressive motility; au |
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