The trial measured births as well as semen
Men in couples seeking infertility treatment received folic acid plus elemental zinc or placebo for six months. Live birth occurred in about 34% of supplemented couples and 35% of controls, without a significant difference. [1]
Most semen measures also did not differ significantly. DNA fragmentation was modestly higher with supplementation, and nausea, vomiting or abdominal discomfort were more common. [1]
The combination cannot isolate zinc’s individual effect
This was not a test of treating a confirmed zinc deficiency. Because two nutrients were given together, the findings also cannot assign each result to zinc alone. [1][2]
Semen samples were available for 69% at six months, although live-birth outcomes were available for all couples. An investigator disclosed commercial consulting, research and patent relationships. A published correction fixed two baseline multivitamin-use rows; it did not report a change to the live-birth result. [1][2]
Keep the actual outcome in the claim
Imagine a fertility product is promoted using nutrient biology. A direct randomized comparison of live births remains more relevant to that promise than the nutrient’s normal cellular role alone.
| Detail | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 2,370 couples | Large randomized trial |
| Live birth | No significant benefit |
| Two-nutrient combination | Does not isolate zinc |
Sources for this article
- Effect of Folic Acid and Zinc Supplementation in Men on Semen Quality and Live Birth Among Couples Undergoing Infertility Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial - PubMed
Source consulted: 2026-09-19. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product. - Two Rows Transposed in Table 1 | JAMA | JAMA Network
Source consulted: 2026-09-19. This is a reference resource, not a claim that we conducted the studies or tested a product.