Journal of Andrology Testis Workshop 2009
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Published-Ahead-of-Print April 2, 2009, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.108.006940

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Selenium Supplementation Does Not Affect Testicular Selenium Status or Semen Quality in North American Men

Wayne Chris Hawkes *, Zeynep Alkan , and Kenneth Wong

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: wayne.hawkes{at}ars.usda.gov.

Selenium (Se) is essential for sperm function and male fertility, but high Se intake has been associated with impaired semen quality. We previously reported a decrease in sperm motility in men fed high-Se foods, but could not rule out the influence of other environmental and dietary factors. We now report on a randomized, controlled study on potential adverse effects of Se supplementation on semen quality in 42 free-living men administered 300 µg Se/d as high-Se yeast for 48 weeks. Semen analysis was performed four times before treatment began and then twice each week during treatment at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks, and after treatment at 72 and 96 weeks. Blood samples were collected three times before treatment and at each subsequent visit. Se concentration increased 61% in blood plasma and 49% in seminal plasma. However, Se supplementation had no effect on sperm Se, serum androgen concentrations or sperm count, motility, progressive velocity or morphology. We observed progressive decreases in serum luteinizing hormone, semen volume and sperm Se in both the high-Se and placebo groups. Moreover, sperm straight line velocity and percent normal morphology increased in Se-treated and placebo-treated subjects. The lack of an increase in sperm Se suggests that testicular Se stores were unaffected, even though the subjects’ dietary Se intake was tripled and their total body Se was approximately doubled by supplementation. These results are consistent with animal studies showing the Se status of testes to be unresponsive to dietary Se intake.


Key words: cancer chemoprevention • nutrition • selenium supplementation • semen quality • sperm motility






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