Zinc Supplements
An Amazing Nutrient

Zinc Supplements should be taken daily, without fail, by all males, every day. During the infertility male journey, this is even more crucial. Zinc has so many benefits to infertility health, for both male and female.

Zinc and Sperm benefits

Zinc is an antioxidant mineral that is also important in protecting sperm against free radical attack. Semen is rich in zinc, with an estimate of each ejaculate containing as much as 5 mg - one third of the recommended daily nutrient intake. Thus a zinc deficiency would affect the protection of sperm.

Causes of male infertility and sperm washing provide an insight for all males on the importance of their "millions".

Zinc functions

There are three additionally important functions of zinc:

1. The genetic material (DNA chromatin) in the sperm nucleus is tightly wound with special proteins to form an insoluble, stable complex. This condensed structure is important for successful fertilization. Zinc is important for this structure and protects it from breaking down.
2. The high concentration of zinc in semen damps down sperm activity, keeping them in a relatively quiescent state. This lowers their consumption of oxygen and conserves sperm energy. When they are within the female reproductive tract, which contains very little zinc, zinc concentrations are rapidly diluted. This causes a sudden increase in sperm activity, speeding them up and acting like a mineral turbo charge.
3. During fertilization, a sperm exposes enzymes in a sac at the sperm head to drill a hole in the outer egg shell through which the sperm can pass. This is known as the acrosome reaction. During infertility, it may be that a large number of sperm discharge their enzymes spontaneously before or just after ejaculation. Therefore by the time they reach the egg, they are no longer capable of penetrating it. This early discharge of the acrosome reaction is lined with a zinc deficiency.

High concentrations of zinc in semen helps to damp down the acrosome reaction in a reversible way. Once zinc concentrations become diluted within the female tract, the acrosome reaction can again occur.

Prostate gland

Another finding is that zinc deficiency changes the sequence in which seminal secretions are ejaculated. Lack of zinc may cause swelling of the prostate gland, which will slow sperm traveling up from the testes. This swelling will also slow the release of pro static secretions, which are usually the first fluids to be ejaculated.

It may be possible that this change in the ejaculatory sequence is a survival response to low concentrations of sperm zinc.

By mixing the sperm and the relatively zinc-rich seminal vesicle secretions as early as possible, the protective effects of zinc are maximized.

For those men that are highly sexually active, especially during the infertility phase, may be losing more zinc per day in their semen than they can keep up with in their diet.

Men should ideally take a minimum of 15 mg zinc supplements per day.

Female infertility

Zinc has the powerful ability to strengthen the immune system. Zinc may also aid in regulating hormones, which is essential for ovulation.

Pregnant and Lactating Women - A developing fetus requires a high amount of zinc, likewise, there is a high amount of zinc lost through breast milk after birth.

Before starting a zinc supplement, consult with your doctor, about the right dosage. It is possible to take too much zinc, which can inhibit the body's absorption of copper, another important mineral.

Food sources for Zinc

Zinc supplements has amazing properties to assist with fertility.

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