Treatment with thymosin alpha-1 increases fertilizing capacity of sperm of infertile men: a multicenter trial.
Naz. R K RK; Menge. A C AC; Sacco. A A
Key Findings
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 increased sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction, enhancing fertilizability
- 31‑45% rise in fertilizing capacity observed in 76% of infertile men tested
- The benefit correlated with the peptide’s concentration in seminal plasma
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers focused on male fertility, thymosin‑alpha‑1 looks promising as a supplement to improve sperm function. However, optimal dosing and long‑term safety aren’t defined yet, so start with low doses and monitor results, or consider it under medical supervision as part of a broader fertility protocol.
Summary
A study found that adding the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 to sperm samples boosted the ability of sperm from infertile men to fertilize eggs, with about three‑quarters of participants showing a 31‑45% improvement.
Abstract
Thymosin alpha-1 (T alpha 1) significantly enhances the fertilizability of sperm from fertile men by increasing capacitation and/or acrosome reaction. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of T alpha 1 on fertilizing capacity of sperm of infertile men using the sperm penetration assay (SPA) in a multicenter clinical trial. T alpha 1 significantly (p = .0006 to < .0001) increased (31 to 45%) fertilizing capacity of sperm of 76% (50/68) of infertile men as defined by the sperm penetration index in SPA. The enhancing effect of T alpha 1 and the degree of enhancement depended on the T alpha 1 concentration in the seminal plasma, since these parameters showed a significant intercorrelation (r = .65 to .74, p = .039 to .01). It would appear that T alpha 1 may have clinical application in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility especially mediated through defective sperm function.
Study Information
pubmed
1995
1995-09-01T00:00:00.000Z
10.3109/01485019508987866
5
15