Birth rates doubled with Vitamin D - 300,000 IU for infertile men – RCT

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on semen quality, reproductive hormones and live birth rate: a randomized clinical trial.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Nov 3. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-01656

Blomberg Jensen M1,2, Lawaetz JG1, Petersen JH1,3, Juul A1, Jørgensen N1.

• 1 Department of Growth and Reproduction and International Research and Research Training Centre in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

• 2 Division of Bone and Mineral Research, HSDM/HMS, Harvard University, Boston MA, US.

• 3 Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Increased natural births after 300,000 IU

Big increase in birth rates in men with low sperm count

CONTEXT: Animal models and cross-sectional cohort studies have suggested a beneficial role for vitamin D in male reproduction.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on semen quality in infertile men with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25OHD)≤ 50 nmol/l.

DESIGN: A single centre, triple-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS: 1427 infertile men were screened to include 330. 1002 men did not meet inclusion criteria and 95 did not wish to participate.

INTERVENTION: The active group received cholecalciferol 300,000IU initially followed by 1400IU + 500 mg calcium daily for 150 days, while the other group received placebo.

RESULTS: Serum concentrations of 25-OHD and 1,25OH2D3 were significantly higher in men treated with vitamin D + calcium for 150 days compared with placebo. Vitamin D supplementation was not associated with changes in semen parameters although spontaneous pregnancies tended to be higher 7.3% vs 2.4% ,Δ5.0% [-0.6%;10.5%].

Vitamin D treatment in a subgroup of oligozoospermic men increased the chance for a live birth compared with placebo 35.6% vs 18.3% ,Δ17.3% [1.6%; 32.9%]. Moreover, serum inhibin B was higher in vitamin D deficient men randomized to vitamin D 193 pg/ml vs 143 pg/ml, Δ49pg/ml 8;91pg/ml, however, the increase in sperm concentration was not significantly higher than placebo (p=0.07).

CONCLUSIONS: High dose vitamin D supplementation did not improve semen quality in vitamin D insufficient infertile men. The positive impact of vitamin D supplementation on live birth rate and serum inhibin B in oligozoospermic and vitamin D deficient men may be of clinical importance and warrant verification by others.

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Study was cited 144 times in Google Scholar as of May 2025

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