Sperm quality improvement after natural anti-oxidant treatment of asthenoteratospermic men with leukocytospermia

Piomboni, Paola; Gambera, Laura; Serafini, Francesca; Campanella, G; Morgante, Giuseppe; Leo, Vincenzo De

doi:10.1111/j.1745-7262.2008.00356.x

Cited by 105 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…56 Five RCTs evaluated the effects of zinc alone or in combination with folic acid and all five reported a significant improvement in sperm parameters in the treatment arm only. 47,[50][51][52][53][54][55] Three RCTs evaluated the effects of selenium alone or in combination with N-acetyl cysteine and two of the three studies reported a significant improvement in sperm parameters in the treatment arm only. 43,48,54 Four RCTs evaluated the effects of L-carnitine alone or in combination with L-acetyl carnitine and three of the four reported a significant improvement in sperm parameters in the treatment arm only.…”

Section: Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Sperm Dysfunctionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…45,54,61 Several investigators have examined the effect of antioxidant therapy on sperm DNA integrity because sperm DNA damage may be caused, at least in part, by oxidative stress. 15,22,29,53,[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] In addition, sperm DNA damage is a more reliable outcome measure than sperm concentration or motility because measures of sperm DNA damage exhibit a lower degree of biological variability than conventional semen parameters. [70][71][72] Treatment with oral antioxidants has generally been associated with improvement in sperm DNA integrity and in some cases pregnancy rates after assisted reproduction, although most of these studies are small and few are randomized placebo-controlled trials ( Table 3).…”

Section: Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Sperm Dysfunctionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Antioxidant therapy in male infertility: fact or fiction?

Zini¹,

Alhathal²

2011

Asian J Androl

110

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Infertile men have higher levels of semen reactive oxygen species (ROS) than do fertile men. High levels of semen ROS can cause sperm dysfunction, sperm DNA damage and reduced male reproductive potential. This observation has led clinicians to treat infertile men with antioxidant supplements. The purpose of this article is to discuss the rationale for antioxidant therapy in infertile men and to evaluate the data on the efficacy of dietary and in vitro antioxidant preparations on sperm function and DNA damage. To date, most clinical studies suggest that dietary antioxidant supplements are beneficial in terms of improving sperm function and DNA integrity. However, the exact mechanism of action of dietary antioxidants and the optimal dietary supplement have not been established. Moreover, most of the clinical studies are small and few have evaluated pregnancy rates. A beneficial effect of in vitro antioxidant supplements in protecting spermatozoa from exogenous oxidants has been demonstrated in most studies; however, the effect of these antioxidants in protecting sperm from endogenous ROS, gentle sperm processing and cryopreservation has not been established conclusively. Keywords: antioxidant; male infertility; oxidative stress; sperm DNA fragmentation; vitamins RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OXIDATIVE STRESS AND SPERM DYSFUNCTION Seminal oxidative stress (OS) results from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS scavenging by seminal antioxidants. Seminal OS is believed to be one of the main factors in the pathogenesis of sperm dysfunction and sperm DNA damage in male infertility.1-4 Indeed, it is estimated that 25% of infertile men possess high levels of semen ROS, whereas fertile men do not have high levels of semen ROS.1,4-6 Although a controlled production of these ROS is required for sperm physiology (sperm hyperactivation, capacitation and acrosome reaction) and for natural fertilization, [7][8][9] the excessive production of ROS by immature germ cells and leukocytes causes sperm dysfunction (lipid peroxidation, loss of motility and sperm DNA damage). 9,10 Spermatozoa are particularly susceptible to oxidative injury due to the abundance of plasma membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids. [10][11][12] These unsaturated fatty acids provide fluidity that is necessary for membrane fusion events (e.g., the acrosome reaction and sperm-egg interaction) and for sperm motility. However, the unsaturated nature of these molecules predisposes them to free radical attack and ongoing lipid peroxidation throughout the sperm plasma membrane. Once this process has been initiated, accumulation of lipid peroxides occurs on the sperm surface (this results in loss of sperm motility) and oxidative damage to DNA can ensue. 13,14SEMINAL ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND SPERM DYSFUNCTION Seminal plasma and spermatozoa themselves are well endowed with an array of protective antioxidants to protect spermatozoa from OS, especially, at the post-testicular level. 6,15,16 Seminal plasma contains a number of high-molecular weigh...

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Section: Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Sperm Dysfunctionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Sperm Dysfunctionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antioxidant therapy in male infertility: fact or fiction?

Zini¹,

Alhathal²

2011

Asian J Androl

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, the vast majority of clinical and experimental in vitro reports have shown a direct association between leukocytospermia and deterioration in semen parameters, in terms of total sperm count [55,56], sperm motility [9,55,[57][58][59][60], sperm morphology [56,59,60], and sperm viability [60]. Moreover, according to some authors, leukocytospermia represents an essential or additional risk factor that needs to be treated if sperm quality is to be improved [61,62]. On the other hand, the observed alterations of standard sperm parameters accompanying leukocytospermia have not always been associated with a decreased fertilizing ability of the sperm, especially in assisted conception procedures [63,64].…”

Section: Coli Staphylococcus (S) Aureus Enterococcus (E) Faecalismentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of the harmful effects of bacterial semen infection on ejaculated human spermatozoa: potential inflammatory markers in semen

Frączek

Kurpisz

2015

Folia Histochem Cytobiol.

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The invasion of the male reproductive tract by microorganisms, and its subsequent consequences for sperm fertilizing potential, has been intensely discussed. The role of the bacteria that are responsible for the colonization and contamination of the male urogenital tract, rather than its infection, in diminished sperm parameters raises the most controversy. There are numerous premises suggesting that bacterial semen infection is associated with male infertility. However, the molecular mechanism by which the fertility is affected is complex and multifactorial, and still presents a puzzle. Some authors have suggested that direct interactions between bacteria and human spermatozoa facilitate sperm immobilization, affect sperm morphology, and thus weaken the ability of sperm to fertilize. On the other hand, the massive infiltration of activated leukocytes into the inflammatory site may be associated with impairment of sperm fertilizing potential, due to oxidative, apoptotic, and immune processes. This review presents current research trends and aims to summarize the present knowledge of semen inflammation and causative bacterial agents in the male urogenital tract, with its consequence on seminological parameters, and male fertility status.

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“…Most of these clinical studies have evaluated men with high levels of sperm DNA damage. In these men, treatment with antioxidant supplements is generally associated with reduced levels of sperm DNA integrity and/or improved fertility potential (Table 1) [19,[47][48][49][50][51][52].…”

Section: Dietary Antioxidant Supplements and Sperm Dna Damagementioning

confidence: 99%

Antioxidants and sperm DNA damage: a clinical perspective

Zini

Gabriel

Baazeem

2009

J Assist Reprod Genet

178

110

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Purpose Infertile men possess substantially more sperm DNA damage than do fertile men, damage that may impact negatively on reproductive outcomes. In this era of assisted reproductive technologies there is mounting concern regarding the safety of utilizing DNA-damaged spermatozoa in this setting. Therefore, it is important to identify strategies that may reduce sperm DNA damage. The purpose of this review is to discuss the rationale for antioxidant therapy in men with sperm DNA damage and to evaluate the data on the efficacy of dietary and in vitro antioxidant preparations on sperm DNA damage. Methods We reviewed the literature on antioxidants and sperm DNA damage. Results To date, the data suggest that dietary antioxidants may be beneficial in reducing sperm DNA damage, particularly, in men with high levels of DNA fragmentation. However, the mechanism of action of dietary antioxidants has not been established and most of the clinical studies are small. A beneficial effect of in vitro antioxidant supplements in protecting sperm DNA from exogenous oxidants has been demonstrated, however, the effect of these antioxidants in protecting sperm from endogenous ROS, gentle sperm processing and cryopreservation has not been established.

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Sperm quality improvement after natural anti-oxidant treatment of asthenoteratospermic men with leukocytospermia

Abstract: The treatment of an inflammatory process by the synergic action of immune modulators and anti-oxidants could protect sperm during maturation and migration, leading to improved sperm function.

Cited by 105 publications

References 30 publications

Antioxidant therapy in male infertility: fact or fiction?

Antioxidant therapy in male infertility: fact or fiction?

Mechanisms of the harmful effects of bacterial semen infection on ejaculated human spermatozoa: potential inflammatory markers in semen

Antioxidants and sperm DNA damage: a clinical perspective

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