Effect of Omega 3 Fats on Sperm Quality and Sexual Function

Reproductive Partners Medical Group

Status and phase

Terminated

Phase 2

Conditions

Infertility

Treatments

Drug: folic acid

Drug: omega 3 fats

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00406874

RPMG-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study compares the effects of omega 3 fats plus folic acid with placebo plus folic acid on sperm quality and sexual function in infertile men. It will also evaluate the effects on sexual fuction of a sub-therapeutic dose of a PDE 5 inhibitor versus placebo in subjects continuing on both omega 3 fats and folic acid.

Full description

Infertile men commonly have difficulty timing sexual relations around the time of ovulation. There is a high incidence of abnormal sperm morphology in infertile men. Omega 3 fats are known to increase the production of nitric oxide, which is the mediator of the male response, and folic acid is an important cofactor in the production of nitric oxide. Omega 3 fats are also important in the structure and function of cell membranes. There is a high incidence of deficient intake of omega 3 fats and folic acid in the U.S. population. Both folic acid and omega 3 fats are available as nutritional supplements and the doses used in this study are doses commonly recommended as nutritional supplements.

Comparison: Omega 3 fats plus folic acid will be compared with placebo plus folic acid in men age 35 to 55 attempting pregnancy with normal or mildly impaired semen quality. They will fill out dietary questionaires, questionaires regarding sexual function, and will have measurements of serum nitrates, blood pressure, and semen quality before and during use of these nutritional supplements. In men continuing on both omega 3 fats and folic acid, we will compare the effects of a sub-therapeutic dose of a PDE 5 inhibitor versus placebo on their sexual function.

Enrollment

6 patients

Sex

Male

Ages

35 to 55 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

infertile men
age 35 to 55
expressing difficulty timing relations to their partner's ovulation

Exclusion criteria

hypertension, heart disease or other systemic diseases
fatty fish intake more than twice per week
marked semen abnormalities (less than 10 million sperm per ml, less than 20 % A plus B motility, more than 1 million WBC per HPF)
use of anticoagulants
must be willing to not take PDE 5 inhibitors during the study
use of other supplements is prohibited during the study