Micronutrient supplements as antioxidants in improving sperm quality and reducing DNA fragmentation

Basic and Clinical Andrology

Research Article

Nhu Quynh Thi Tran¹  Nguyen Dac Nguyen²  Thanh Ngoc Cao²  Minh Tam Le²  Quoc Huy Vu Nguyen³ 

[1] Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, 06 Ngo Quyen Street, 53000, Hue, Vietnam;Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, 06 Ngo Quyen Street, 53000, Hue, Vietnam;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam;

关键词: Male infertility;    Sperm DNA fragmentation;    Antioxidants;    Oxidative stress;    Reactive oxygen species;    Infertilité masculine;    Fragmentation de l'ADN des s*Spermatozoïdes;    Antioxydants;    Stress oxydatif;    Espèces réactives de l'Oxygène;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12610-023-00197-9

 received in 2023-02-20, accepted in 2023-06-05,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSpermatogenesis and sperm quality may be negatively impacted by an increase in reactive oxygen species. This study investigates the efficacy of combined antioxidant therapy for treating male infertility, as measured by semen analyses and the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Infertile men with a high sperm DNA fragmentation index were instructed to take two oral micronutrient capsules daily for three months. Each antioxidant formulation contained 60 mg vitamin E, 400 µg folic acid, 30 mg selenium, 125 mg L-arginine, 220 mg L-carnitine, 7.5 mg coenzyme Q10, 40 mg L-glutathione, and 20 mg zinc citrate. At entry and post-treatment, the general characteristics, semen analysis, and sperm chromatin dispersion assays were recorded and compared.ResultsAfter three months of treatment with antioxidant compounds, the quality of spermatozoa improved significantly, as indicated by a decrease in the mean DNA fragmentation index from 45.6 ± 17.2% to 34.8 ± 20.3%; an increase in sperm concentration from 29.7 × 106/mL to 35.7 × 106/mL (p < 0.001), an increase in a total number of spermatozoa from 72.1 × 106 to 95.5 × 106 (p = 0.012), and an increase in the vitality from 75.5 ± 17.1 to 81.1 ± 14.4% viable forms (p < 0.001).ConclusionsMicronutrient supplementation can improve sperm quality and DNA integrity in infertile men. Men with infertility and significant sperm DNA fragmentation who take antioxidants for three months experience a reduction in DNA fragmentation index and an increase in sperm quality as measured by the semen analysis.Trial registrationNCT04509583. Registered 12 August 2020, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ethics Committee—Retrospectively registered.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

Fig. 2