Studies reveal the benefit of myo-inositol in male fertility issues
The Role of Myo-Inositol
Myo-Inositol (Myo-Ins) is a molecule that closely resembles sugar and is a member of the B vitamin family. It is found in nearly every tissue of the human body and is abundant within the male reproductive organs, including the testes.
Myo-Ins is involved in cellular signaling (the ability of human cells to respond to certain stimuli in order to perform a specific function) and is known to play a key role in both insulin signaling and the ovulation process in women.
But with approximately 40 to 50% of infertility cases involving a male factor, recent research has focused on Myo-Ins and the role it may play in supporting male fertility.
Myo-Inositol and Male Fertility
Myo-Ins has been shown to be present in high concentrations in the male reproductive system and is produced primarily in response to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) – a hormone produced by the brain that is essential for sperm production.
Because of this relationship, Myo-Ins is closely tied to several important components of male reproduction, including sperm motility, sperm capacitation, and the acrosome reaction. Each of these are important processes required for sperm transit and fertilization of the egg.
In addition, within each sperm there is a sophisticated mechanism that regulates cellular calcium concentrations, and research has found inositol is essential in maintaining appropriate calcium levels within the acrosome, head, and tail of the sperm. It has also been suggested that Myo-Ins assists in the osmotic regulation of seminal fluid itself.
Given the role Myo-Ins has in male-reproductive function, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial performed by Calogero et al. evaluated the potential benefits of Myo-Ins in men with infertility. In the study, the impact of Myo-Ins on sperm parameters and reproductive hormones were evaluated over a treatment course of 3 months. After supplemental support with Myo-Ins, the authors noted a significant improvement in the percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm, sperm concentration, sperm count, and sperm motility.
Interestingly, the utilization of Myo-Ins also resulted in the rebalancing of three main hormones related to male health and fertility – FSH, luteinizing hormone, and inhibin B.
Antioxidant Role
Myo-Ins has also been evaluated in terms of its potential antioxidant benefits and male reproductive health.
It has been hypothesized that the overproduction of reactive oxygen species may cause male infertility – with hydrogen peroxide being recognized as the most toxic oxidizing species for human sperm. This is because sperm are sensitive to lipid peroxidation given the high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the plasma membrane of sperm.
Several conditions are known to increase oxidative stress in the seminal fluid. These factors include pathological conditions such as a varicocele or prostate inflammation; lifestyle factors such as smoking, and alcohol use; environmental issues; and nutritional factors.
Importantly, reactive oxygen species have been noted to affect sperm motility, morphology, and DNA stability; and may also damage the mitochondria present within the sperm resulting in reproductive dysfunction.
With regard to its potential role in combating oxidative stress, Colone et al., in a 2010 study, revealed that the sperm in men with male-factor issues were covered by an amorphous fibrous material acting to increase the thickness of the seminal fluid. As a result, this abnormal material decreased the ability of the sperm to move in a normal manner.
In addition, it was noted that the mitochondria in these individuals had damaged cristae (the inner folds within the mitochondria responsible for maximizing energy production within the cell).
The authors found that when the sperm were incubated with inositol, the amorphous material disappeared from the sperm, and the damage to the mitochondria diminished.
Following these findings, Ghasemi, et al., in a 2019 study evaluated the effect of Myo-Ins on sperm parameters and fertility rates in couples with male factor infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination. In this study, male sperm were incubated with Myo-Ins in preparation for intrauterine insemination. After incubation of the sperm, the authors found a significant improvement in sperm motility in the group treated with Myo-Ins leading to an increased fertility rate of up to 18%.
Multiple Potential Benefits
Most recently, a 2024 review of the literature was performed by Ghaemia et al. to assess the impact of Myo-Ins supplements in the area of male reproduction. In this study, the authors reviewed multiple articles pertaining to Myo-Ins support in men with infertility. The study concluded that Myo-Ins therapy had a positive impact on multiple factors, including sperm motility, testosterone levels, and DNA fragmentation. In addition, the authors noted a pooled pregnancy rate of 34% with Myo-Ins.
True Health Matters Summary
Myo-Ins is an important component of healthy cellular and hormonal hemostasis. It is largely known for its role in female health, but recent findings reveal Myo-Ins is also important to the male reproductive system with research showing a clinical benefit in those experiencing infertility – highlighting the need for further research in this emerging area of men’s health.
References:
[1] Calogero AE, Gullo G, La Vignera S, Condorelli RA, Vaiarelli A. Myoinositol improves sperm parameters and serum reproductive hormones in patients with idiopathic infertility: a prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study. Andrology. 2015 May;3(3):491-5. doi: 10.1111/andr.12025. Epub 2015 Apr 9. PMID: 25854593.
[2] Colone M, Marelli G, Unfer V, Bozzuto G, Molinari A, Stringaro A. Inositol activity in oligoasthenoteratospermia–an in vitro study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2010 Oct;14(10):891-6. PMID: 21222378.
[3 Condorelli RA, La Vignera S, Mongioì LM, Vitale SG, Laganà AS, Cimino L, Calogero AE. Myo-inositol as a male fertility molecule: speed them up! Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2017 Jun;21(2 Suppl):30-35. PMID: 28724176.
[4] Ghaemi M, Seighali N, Shafiee A, Beiky M, Kohandel Gargari O, Azarboo A, Shafti V, Jafarabady K, Eshraghi N, Haddadi M, Akbari R, Panahi Z, Hantoushzadeh S. The effect of Myo-inositol on improving sperm quality and IVF outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Food Sci Nutr. 2024 Sep 12;12(11):8515-8524. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.4427. PMID: 39619962; PMCID: PMC11606893.
[5] Ghasemi A, Amjadi F, Masoumeh Ghazi Mirsaeed S, Mohammad Beigi R, Ghasemi S, Moradi Y, Tahereh Ghazi Mirsaeed S. The effect of Myo-inositol on sperm parameters and pregnancy rate in oligoasthenospermic men treated with IUI: A randomized clinical trial. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2019 Nov 7;17(10):749-756. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v17i10.5296. PMID: 31807723; PMCID: PMC6844281.
