Effect of DHA supplementation on DHA status and sperm motility in asthenozoospermic males

Abstract

The effects of supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on DHA levels in serum, seminal plasma, and sperm of asthenozoospermic men as well as on sperm motility were examined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled manner. Asthenozoospermic men (n = 28; < or =50% motility) were supplemented with 0, 400, or 800 mg DHA/d for 3 mon. Sperm motility and the fatty acid composition of serum, seminal plasma, and sperm phospholipid were determined before and after supplementation. In serum, DHA supplementation resulted in decreases in 22:4n-6 (-30% in the 800-mg DHA group only) and total n-6 (-6 and -12% in the 400- and 800-mg DHA groups, respectively) fatty acids. Increases were noted in DHA (71 and 131% in the 400- and 800-mg DHA groups, respectively), total n-3 fatty acids (42 and 67% in the 400- and 800-mg DHA groups, respectively), and the n-3/n-6 ratio (50 and 93% in the 400- and 800-mg DHA groups, respectively). In seminal plasma, DHA supplementation resulted in a decrease in 22:4n-6 (-31% in the 800-mg DHA group only) and an increase in the ratio of n-3 to n-6 (35 and 33% in the 400- and 800-mg DHA groups, respectively). There were insignificant increases in DHA and total n-3 fatty acids. In sperm, decreases were noted in 22:4n-6 (-37 and -31% in the 400- and 800-mg DHA groups, respectively). There were no other changes. There was no effect of DHA supplementation on sperm motility. The results show that dietary DHA supplementation results in increased serum--and possibly seminal plasma--phospholipid DHA levels, without affecting the incorporation of DHA into the spermatozoa phospholipid in asthenozoospermic men. This inability of DHA to be incorporated into sperm phospholipid is most likely responsible for the observed lack of effect of DHA supplementation on sperm motility.

Oxidative status and semen characteristics of rabbit buck as affected by dietary

“…This particular lipid profile is correlated with some membrane properties and functions such as fluidity, ion exchange and motility [2].…”

Efeito de fontes de óleo e níveis de suplementação de vitamina E na ração sobre as características físicas e morfológicas do sêmen in natura de suínos

“…O vigor foi classificado de acordo com Ferreira Neto et al (1977), variando de zero (0) a cinco (5), sendo o escore 0 equivalente à total imobilidade espermática, e o escore 5 à movimentação intensa, vigorosa, progressiva e com formação de ondas.…”

Nutraceutical in male reproduction

“…The transfer of dietary PUFAs to the plasma membrane of sperm has been shown to be effective in some species, such as small ruminants (Drokin et al, 1999) and humans (Conquer et al, 2000). Decrease of fertility during aging was associated with a reduction in the proportion of specific phospholipids PUFAs, both in bull sperm (DHA; Kelso et al, 1997) and in chicken sperm (C20-22 PUFA; Cerolini et al, 1997).…”