Supplement
Date palm pollen is the pollen of male date palm trees, a traditional Middle Eastern remedy that contains antioxidant plant compounds with hormone-like activity. People mostly look at it for male fertility, and two small controlled trials in infertile men found better sperm count, motility, and shape. Still, the evidence is limited, since most of the research has been done in animals rather than people.
- Updated
- How we grade
- 16 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 9
- Graded outcomes
- 0035
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sperm Parameters Two small controlled clinical trials in infertile men (PMID:26506651, PMID:34401649) showed improved sperm count, motility, and morphology. Multiple animal studies consistently demonstrate increased sperm parameters following cadmium-induced toxicity, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetic models. A 2021 controlled trial also showed upregulation of antioxidant genes (NRF2, SOD2, CAT, GPX4) in sperm cells. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 8 studies | 120 people | ||
Studies that measured sperm parameters
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| Sexual Function A randomized, double-blind clinical trial (PMID:35388309) in men with sexual dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft surgery reported improved sexual function scores. An animal study in diabetic rats (PMID:29080463) showed amelioration of male sexual dysfunctions. Traditional use as an aphrodisiac is well-documented in Middle Eastern medicine. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | 80 people | ||
Studies that measured sexual function
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| Testosterone Animal studies consistently show increased testosterone and gonadotropin levels in rats (PMID:25469129, PMID:26425844, PMID:29080463). Date palm pollen contains both androgenic and estrogenic compounds. Direct human testosterone measurement data is limited, with most human evidence coming indirectly from sperm parameter and sexual function trials. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 5 studies | |||
Studies that measured testosterone
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| Female Fertility and Ovarian Function In a letrozole-induced PCOS rat model (PMID:41680525), date palm pollen extract improved fertility and pregnancy outcomes. An additional study (PMID:40219302) showed improved fertility-stimulating hormones in bisphenol A-treated rats. Contains phytoestrogens but no human clinical trials exist for female reproductive outcomes. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 4 studies | |||
Studies that measured female fertility and ovarian function
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| Liver Protection In rodent models, date palm pollen showed hepatoprotective effects against zinc oxide nanoparticle-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress (PMID:38145102) and against bisphenol A-induced liver damage (PMID:40219302). Effects attributed to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. No human hepatoprotection data available. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | |||
Studies that measured liver protection
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| Prostate Health In a rat model of experimentally-induced atypical prostatic hyperplasia (PMID:22195697), date palm pollen demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities, reducing prostate tissue inflammation. No human trials have been conducted for prostate-related outcomes. | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
| Oral Mucositis Prevention A single pilot study (PMID:25148841) investigated date palm pollen as a preventative intervention for radiation- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in cancer patients, with preliminary positive results. No follow-up confirmatory trials have been published. | Changes; see studies | Small effect | 1 study | 20 people | ||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardioprotection | 1 study | |||||
Key findings
- Sperm ParametersImproves (the measure goes up)
- Antioxidant StatusImproves (the measure goes up)
- Sexual FunctionImproves (the measure goes up)
Safety notes in the studies
- Multiple animal studies consistently demonstrate increased sperm parameters following cadmium-induced toxicity, thyroid dysfunction, and diabetic models.
Studies cited
16 studies from PubMed
- Date palm pollen extract improves fertility and pregnancy outcomes in letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome rats.
- Alginate Beads with Encapsulated Date Palm Pollen Extract: Development, Characterization and Their Potential Role in Hepato-Protection and Fertility-Stimulating Hormones Improvement in Bisphenol A-Treated Rats.
- Reproductive Enhancement through Phytochemical Characteristics and Biological Activities of Date Palm Pollen: A Comprehensive Review on Potential Mechanism Pathways.
- Potential effects of spirulina and date palm pollens on zinc oxide nanoparticles-induced hepatoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammation in male albino rats.
- Efficacy of Date Palm Pollen in the Male Sexual Dysfunction after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Clinical Trial.
- The effect of Phoenix dactylifera pollen on the expression of NRF2, SOD2, CAT, and GPX4 genes, and sperm parameters of fertile and infertile men: A controlled clinical trial.
- Ameliorative effects of bee pollen and date palm pollen on the glycemic state and male sexual dysfunctions in streptozotocin-Induced diabetic wistar rats.
- Cardiopreventive effect of ethanolic extract of Date Palm Pollen against isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats through the inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme.
- Effects of date palm pollen on fertility: research proposal for a systematic review.
- The Role of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) Pollen in Fertility: A Comprehensive Review of Current Evidence.
- Therapeutic Potential of Date Palm Pollen for Testicular Dysfunction Induced by Thyroid Disorders in Male Rats.
- Effect of Palm Pollen on Sperm Parameters of Infertile Man.
- Date palm pollen as a preventative intervention in radiation- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a pilot study.
- Effects of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera L.) and Astragalus ovinus on sperm parameters and sex hormones in adult male rats.
- Therapeutic effects of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pollen extract on cadmium-induced testicular toxicity.
- Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera) on experimentally-induced atypical prostatic hyperplasia in rats.