Men suffer greatly from infertility resulting in 40-50% of the total ratio of infertility in humans. Poor sperm motility, low sperm concentration, and abnormal sperm structure are among the leading causes of infertility in men. Selenium is a mineral that acts as a rescuer for infertility as there are many noticeable benefits of selenium sexually, for men.
Highlights
- Selenium is a mineral that is present in dietary sources that has many benefits sexually for men
- Selenium boosts the production of testosterone in males that improves their sex drive and treats erectile dysfunction
- Sperm count, semen quality, and testes function are improved in men eating a selenium diet.
Selenium is needed in only trace amounts and offers plenty of health benefits despite being the neglected child of the body. Read to know if men should take selenium or not.
What is selenium?
Selenium is a mineral present in the diet and is required in only trace amounts for some vital sexual and other bodily functions in men and women. The selenium we ingest is typically stored in the muscles, kidney, liver, pancreas, and spleen and hence, positively impacts many vital body functions. Selenium is a component of selenoprotein and certain enzymes, which have antioxidant properties to prevent inflammatory conditions in the body.
You can also consult the best sexologist today for treating male infertility.
What Does Selenium Do For Males?
The optimal reproductive function in humans depends on environmental, genetic, and dietary factors. Of the dietary factors, lack of selenium in males can cause infertility. Male infertility affects nearly 7% of all men and the condition gets worse due to the lack of selenium in the body. Selenium promotes male sexual health by positively affecting sperm production and maturation. You might be thinking what does selenium do for males?
Well, some of the benefits are listed below to highlight the effect of selenium on sperm, making it the best supplement for male fertility.
1. Is Selenium Good for Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is usually common in men with selenium deficiency. Individuals with low selenium are usually unable to satisfy their sexual desires due to their weak or slow erections. Fatigue is also experienced by men after intercourse.
The benefits of selenium sexually include its positive impact on the biosynthesis of testosterone (male sex hormone) in men. This promotes the production of sperm thus, improving the sex drive in men.
Read to know the benefits of watermelon for erectile dysfunction.
2. Does Selenium Improve Sperm Count?
One of the leading causes of male infertility is the mutations in the structure of the sperm or their maturation. The selenium mineral promotes spermatogenesis (the production of sperms) and thus, protects the sperms from mutations in their early stages of production. It does so by protecting the sperm cells from oxidative damage, as selenium has an antioxidant effect.
In a clinical trial, the fertility in certain subfertile men increased significantly when supplemented with selenium as it increases sperm motility and increases the chances of conception.
3. Does Selenium Increase Sex Drive in Men?
Selenium keeps testes and seminal vesicles healthy, thus, benefitting sexual activity in men. Lack of selenium affects testicular morphology as well as their function. The biosynthesis of testes and the normal development of spermatozoa (male sex cells) are all affected by the deficiency of selenium in the body.
The effect of selenium on the protection of testicular selenoproteins is well reported as selenium promotes male reproductive health, particularly due to its antioxidant effects in inflammations.
4. How Much Selenium with Vitamin E For Male Fertility?
Selenium is often combined with vitamin E supplements as they both promote antioxidative effects in the body. It is available in an average combination of 100-400 mg of vitamin E per 50 mcg of selenium. The combination can also be injected into the body to boost selenium levels for their benefit on men’s sexual health.
Selenium reduces peroxide which is a harmful substance produced in the body while vitamin E prevents the formation of free radicals. The selenium benefits for men are enhanced significantly when combined with vitamin E, as it improves semen quality.
Dietary sources of selenium
Selenium benefits men sexually and is often used to treat infertility. It has to be taken up from dietary sources to meet the recommended needs of the body and is required in trace amounts only.
Some of the major food sources containing selenium are listed below which can meet the daily selenium need of nearly 97-98% of individuals;
| Food | Mcg (micrograms) per serving |
| Brazil nuts | 91 per nut |
| Fish (Tuna) | 92 per 3 ounces |
| Macaroni | 37 per cup |
| Beef liver | 28 per 3 ounces |
| Boiled lentils | 6 mcg per cup |
| White bread | 6 per slice |
| Hard-boiled egg | 20 per egg |
The other sources of selenium include protein-rich foods, red meat, green vegetables, and seafood. The foods providing 20% of the daily value are considered rich sources of selenium.
However, the amount of selenium in the soil varies, hence the amount of selenium also slightly varies in the foods which are the sources of selenium.
How much selenium is safe to consume in a day?
The sexual selenium benefits in men make the mineral highly demanding. It can be consumed from dietary sources or selenium supplements. The recommended DV of selenium is 55 mcg in adults and children over 14 years. For children of 0-13 years, the selenium daily allowance ranging from 15-30 mcg is recommended. The intake amount may vary as prescribed by a doctor in treating certain conditions like prostate cancer.
Take home
Selenium’s benefits for men make it a popular mineral in treating male infertility. The trace amounts of selenium can be consumed from dietary sources and supplements, and help improves sperm production, motility, and testosterone production as well as sex drive.
You can consult a sexologist for further information about the use of selenium in men to improve sexual health.
FAQs
1. Who should not take selenium?
Selenium should be avoided in individuals who ever had skin cancer in their life. It also increases the chances of bleeding in certain cases so, avoid taking selenium after surgery.
2. What are the signs of selenium deficiency?
Selenium deficiency can lead to infertility in men, fatigue after intercourse, and weak or poor erection. The immune system may also weaken as a result of selenium deficiency.
3. Should men take selenium?
Selenium is the most valuable mineral to treat infertility in men. Selenium increases sperm production and motility. It also benefits men sexually due to its antioxidant properties which increase testosterone production.