The role of micronutrients in male and female fertility: A review study

Fertility means the ability to have a child that is one of the causes of family formation. Several factors can affect fertility. Micronutrients are essential for the body's anabolic and catabolic activities, so they may be effective factors on fertility. Therefore, this study was conducted with aim to determine the role of micronutrients in male and female fertility.

In this review study, the Persian databases of Magiran, SID and the English databases of Pubmed, Scopus, SID, Elsevier, Web Of Sciences and the Google Scholar search engine were searched using the English keywords of Infertility, fertility Infertility, Fertility, Male Infertility, Semen, Semen Parameters, Systematic Review, Clinical Trial, Case-Control, Female Infertility, Micronutrients, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Antioxidants, Folic Acid, Zinc and their Persian equivalents in the period of 1990-2020. Numerous quantitative and qualitative studies that were similar to the present study in terms of content were selected and evaluated.

Among 1052 articles, 22 studies which were more related to the aim of the present study were selected and evaluated. The results of reviewing the studies showed that the consumption of micronutrients including vitamins D, E, C, A, zinc, iodine, selenium, folate and omega-3 fatty acids can play a role in improving male and female fertility parameters. Deficiency of each of them has been seen in infertile men and women.

Since nutrition has moved towards ready meals and lifestyle has moved towards a sedentary life and as a result, the body does not meet the essential needs for basic activities, it seems that the recommendation to consume micronutrients in men and women can prevent many fertility problems and reduce the cost of infertility treatment.