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Efficacy and Safety of Coenzyme Q10 in Idiopathic Male Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

Syarif Bakri, Ramadan Saleh, Selahittin Cayan, Ponco Birowo, Widi Atmoko, Ahmad Taufik Fadillah Zainal, Moh Anfasa Giffari Makkaraka, Ashok Agarwal
World Journal of Men's Health 2025 Online Aug 27, 2025; 2026;44(4):829-843

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 40878114
DOI
10.5534/wjmh.250159
Funding
None.
Competing interests
The authors reported nothing to disclose.

Study snapshot

DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
ModelHuman; men with idiopathic infertility
Sample781
InterventionCoQ10 alone or as part of randomized supplementation regimens versus control.
DurationAt least several weeks; subgroup analyses considered treatment longer than 3 months.
EndpointsSperm concentration; Semen volume; Total motility; Sperm morphology; Clinical pregnancy; Adverse events

What the study showed, in plain terms

This 2025 systematic review pooled randomized trials of CoQ10 in idiopathic male infertility. CoQ10 improved several semen parameters and the pooled pregnancy estimate favored treatment, but the pregnancy evidence was based on fewer events with a wide confidence interval and does not establish a live-birth benefit.

Key findings

Nine studies involving 781 men were included. CoQ10 increased sperm concentration by about 10.22 million/mL, semen volume by 0.17 mL, and total motility by 4.95 percentage points. The pooled clinical-pregnancy estimate favored CoQ10 (OR 6.02, 95% CI 1.97-18.41) but was imprecise.

What this study can and cannot tell us

Trials varied in dose, duration, and whether CoQ10 was used alone or with other interventions. Pregnancy data were sparse, the confidence interval was wide, and a live-birth benefit was not established. Improvements in semen parameters should not be equated with proven improvement in the chance of taking home a baby.

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Effects of the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) on semen parameters in men with idiopathic infertility: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study
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Evaluation of monotherapy of Coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine or combined therapy on semen parameters in idiopathic male infertility: A placebo-controlled double blind randomized clinical trial
Ahmed Higazy et al. · Arab Journal of Urology · 2025

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Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology