Just a few short years ago, the idea of men’s prenatals was as novel as it gets. While the world at large was on board with the fact that women need prenatal vitamins to support a healthy conception, pregnancy, and postpartum stage, no one was really thinking about the other half of the equation. Fast forward to 2022, and men’s prenatal vitamins are actually part of the fertility and conception conversation — and they should be. Sperm health plays a big role in everything from conception to the health of future generations, and men are just as likely as women to experience infertility issues. So what happened between then and now? This is the story of Beli Vitality, the men’s prenatal vitamin that started it all.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Beli Vitality for Men was one of the first prenatal vitamins formulated for men, with science-backed ingredients proven to support male fertility and sperm health.
- Key nutrients have been shown to support different parameters of sperm health.
- Data shows that sperm quality has decreased by 50 to 60% over the past 40 years.
- The right vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can improve all parameters of all sperm health.
Meet Beli Vitality for Men
Beli founder Joni Hanson Davis may have set out to create a line of scientifically-aligned prenatal vitamins for women, but something occurred to her along the way. What about men? We learn in high school biology that women may be born with all the eggs she’ll ever have, but men produce new sperm every day — every second, to be specific. Would a prenatal vitamin designed to support sperm health make a difference in male fertility or fertility or a pregnancy or even the health of the baby?
To make a long story short — yes. A woman benefits from key nutrients in specific amounts for optimal fertility, and the same is true for a man. Even more noteworthy is the fact that a nutrient shortage is the most common reason behind sperm deficiencies. Oh, and another key consideration? A man’s health not only affects the chances of a healthy conception, it has an impact on the health of his partner’s pregnancy and the future health of his baby. In short, it matters.
Of course, Joni immediately got to work and Beli Vitality for Men was born. Think of it as a supercharged, highly specific, fertility multivitamin, with nutrients show to support stronger, healthier sperm, along with all kinds of happy side effects. In formulating Beli for Men, the team was focused entirely on research-based nutrients — everything a man needs for healthy sperm and more virility, and nothing he doesn’t.
CoQ10
This doctor-approved antioxidant increases sperm motility and has been shown to improve fertilization rates after just a few weeks. Interestingly, CoQ10 is one of those impressive compounds that supports both sperm and egg cells, so it’s useful for anyone who’s hoping to become a parent.
Methylated folate
Folic acid, or folate, is practically synonymous with women’s prenatals, but surprise! It’s just as important in a men’s prenatal. Methylated folate, which is the active and most bioavailable form, has been linked to greater sperm count and health. Meanwhile, low folate levels in semen are associated with poor sperm DNA stability. During that oh-so-important preconception stage, or the six to three months before conception, folate is considered essential for cell division and DNA synthesis in sperm production.
Vitamins C, E, B6, and B12
These are potent antioxidants capable of boosting sperm quantity, motility, and morphology. They also protect sperm against free radicals and have a synergetic effect on other antioxidants, including CoQ10 and selenium.
Vitamin D
We call it a vitamin, but vitamin D is technically a hormone that influences the body’s absorption of other nutrients. When it comes to male fertility, low vitamin D levels are linked to poor sperm quality, and supplementing with vitamin D is associated with better sperm.
L-Carnitine
This compound is associated with higher fertilization rates and improved sperm quality. Specifically, it helps those little swimmers swim better, and particularly the ones on the more sluggish side of the scale. Since sperm need to swim to reach the egg, a greater number of better swimmers is a plus.
Selenium
Selenium is technically a trace mineral that functions like an antioxidant. It can also increase testosterone and multiple sperm parameters for stronger, healthier sperm — and that includes infertile men. When it’s combined with vitamins A, E, or C, selenium has also been shown shown to boost overall sperm quality.
N-acetyl-L-Cysteine
NAC, a semi-essential amino acid, is linked to the improvement of multiple sperm parameters, including count, motility, and morphology. It’s weirdly under the radar given its impressive fertility prowess — it can play a role in fertility for both men and women.
Zinc
Multiple studies link zinc supplementation to improved sperm motility, functional sperm morphology, and increased sperm volume. Infertile men often have low zinc levels.
L-Arginine
This versatile amino acid is necessary for sperm production and enhanced sperm quality. Basically, anything that does down in the testicles benefits from a steady influx of L-arginine.
L-Taurine
Low levels of taurine, another antioxidant, have been linked to male factor infertility. This amino acid works throughout the body and plays an important role in sperm motility and morphology. In other words, it’s key for proper movement patterns and a streamlined shape.
Shilajit
This ancient Ayurvedic adaptogen is a workhorse. Studies show it can increase sperm count, motility, and serum testosterone in men who have been diagnosed with infertility. Beyond its virility benefits, it’s also been shown to increase energy and endurance, improve athletic performance, improve concentration and brain health, and more. Oh, and one more thing. The only prenatal on the market harnessing the power of Shilajit is — you guessed it — Beli Vitality for Men.
Including the right nutrients is one thing, but quantities matter too. While the men’s prenatal vitamin category is still relatively new, the products themselves can’t be considered equal. The idea is the right nutrients in the right amounts in the right forms — that’s the only way to ensure you’re getting exactly what you need to optimize sperm health. Luckily, Beli Vitality for Men is a carefully-calibrated blend of the highest quality, most bioavailable nutrients in quantities that are scientifically shown to actually do something.
Measuring Sperm Health & Why It Matters
Over the last 40 years, sperm quality has decreased by an eye-popping 50 to 60%, depending on the data. Blame nutrient-void diets, sedentary lifestyles, bad habits like too much alcohol or smoking, excessive stress, and environmental toxins, but the takeaway is the same. Sperm health is, on the average, pretty dismal in terms of quality. On the plus side, a little effort goes a very long way. Men can improve sperm health in much the same way they improve health as a whole — taking steps to lead a healthier lifestyle, cutting back on drinking, quitting smoking, getting more exercise, managing stress, eating a varied diet, and supplementing with a quality men’s prenatal vitamin to fill those nutritional gaps.
When you’re focusing on sperm, the payoff is pretty impressive. The right vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can improve sperm quality across all parameters:
- Sperm quantity, which describes the count and concentration of sperm in semen. A healthy male’s ejaculation has around 55 million sperm, while anything under 39 million sperm qualifies as low sperm count.
- Sperm morphology, which is the shape and the size of the sperm. Well-formed sperm should have oval heads and long tails, and anything that deviates is associated with lower fertility rates. Interestingly, poor lifestyle habits are often the culprit behind poor sperm morphology.
- Sperm motility, which is how well and how quickly sperm swim. A man is considered fertile if 40% of his sperm are motile.
Of course, the devil is in the details, so we’ll highlight again that quality matters. A regular men’s multivitamin won’t do the trick, and popping a women’s prenatal isn’t going to do much of anything. But Beli Vitality for Men is specifically designed to support male fertility, and it’s based on all the latest research in the field of men’s fertility nutrition. Our plant-based, vegan supplement is made without GMO ingredients, in an FDA-registered, cGMP facility. And remember those happy side effects we mentioned earlier? Turns out, the same nutrients that support sperm production also affect testosterone levels, which means Beli can help you enjoy a stronger sex drive and improved performance in the bedroom.
The Bottom Line
The idea of men’s prenatal vitamins is rapidly becoming mainstream, and we’re thrilled to watch it unfold. We understood the role a high-quality men’s prenatal could play in male fertility, conception, pregnancy, and bouncing little babies years ago, and our commitment hasn’t changed in the years since. So if you’re looking for the best men’s prenatal vitamin, you just found it.