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 0.73
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
15 support 0 contradict 0 tested null 5 mixed · 20 sources, 15 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, Daryanto B, Dhani FK, Purnomo AF, Kusworini K, Alfandy TN 2025 · Narra J | 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 · International journal of molecular sciences | 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 · Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology | 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 MP, Poulsen M, Bjerregaard AA, Borgstrøm M, Poulsen LK, Chortsen MB, Henriksen SG, Kesmodel US 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, Aliabadi E, Karimi F, Karbalaei N, Mirkhani H, Karbalay-Doust S 2026 · Clinical and experimental reproductive medicine | 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 TM, Fidelis FB, Adekunle AO, Ashonibare VJ, Akorede BA, Shuaibu MS, Hassan SA, Adegbola CA, Ashonibare PJ, Oladapo OM, Adeogun AE, Bamidele SG, Oyedokun PA, Mukolokota M, Kukoyi OS, Oladipo AA, Adelowo OE, Akangbe MD, Hughes JR, Ricken AM, Culty M, Avellar MCW, Akhigbe RE 2024 · Front Pharmacol | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | SR/MA of RCTs: CoQ10 improved semen quality parameters (and circulating testosterone) vs control. |
| Su L, Qu H, Cao Y, Zhu J, Zhang SZ, Wu J, Jiao YZ 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, Mohammed W, Esmat M, Samir M 2026 · Arab journal of urology | 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, Ostojic SM, Alahmar AT 2026 · Nutrients | mechanism | supports | low | Narrative position paper, not evidence: 'The present position paper narratively summarizes evidence related to Ubiquinol fertility and reproduction'. Concludes 'Ubiquinol appears to enhance mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant defense in gametes, a process that appears to aid sperm function'. 'Kaneka commissioned E.J.D. to write the manuscript.' Review — zero weight. |
| Li KP, Yang XS, Wu T 2022 · Front Endocrinol | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | NMA of antioxidants for idiopathic male infertility: CoQ10 among agents improving sperm quality parameters. |
| Chen Z, Hong Z, Wang S, Qiu J, Wang Q, Zeng Y, Weng H 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 MN, Khan TM, Neoh CF, Lean QY, Bukhsh A, Karuppannan M 2021 · Front Pharmacol | meta-analysis | supports | moderate | NMA of pharmacological interventions for male infertility: CoQ10 among effective agents for semen parameters. |
| Fadhil EB, Mohammed MM, Alkawaz UM 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, Umar M, Changfa W 2026 · Frontiers in veterinary science | 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, Tan X, Zheng Z, Yi X, Shi C, Wu D, Zhang W, He H, Shang X 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 L, Sun Y 2022 · Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci | RCT | supports | low | Single-blind RCT in 143 men with asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia comparing an L-carnitine complex (73) with CoQ10 10 mg three times daily plus vitamin E 100 mg three times daily (70) for three months. CoQ10 was never given alone and there was no untreated or placebo arm, so the trial has no estimate for CoQ10. Within the CoQ10-plus-vitamin-E arm, progressive motility and morphology improved from baseline but sperm concentration did not; the L-carnitine arm did better on all sperm parameters. Abstract only. |
| Bakri S, Saleh R, Cayan S, Birowo P, Atmoko W, Zainal ATF, Makkaraka MAG, Agarwal A 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 AT, Sengupta P 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, Rasheed SA, Asim RA 2026 · Open veterinary journal | 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, Oyowvi MO, Onaolapo MC 2026 · Mol Biol Rep | observational | mixed | low | Narrative review: 'This comprehensive analysis, drawing on research published between 2000 and 2025'. CoQ10 is one of many antioxidants said to have 'shown potential'; 'clinical outcomes remain inconsistent'. No pooled estimate. Review — zero weight. |
| Ramgir-Naidu S, Abubakar YA, Soni M 2026 · J Health Popul Nutr | mechanism | mixed | low | Scoping review, not evidence: 'A scoping narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science'; CoQ10 'facilitates efficient mitochondrial electron transport ... although clinical benefits are not consistently demonstrated.' Review — zero weight. |
| Safaeinezhad A, Mousapour E, Baba Ahmadi AK, Ebrahimi S, Rahimi K, Rezaie A, Dehvari M, Givi ME, Sasani A 2025 · Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) | 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, Lu X, Xie Y, Yu Y, Gao Y, Shen N, Zheng Y 2025 · Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) | 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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