(25-02-11) Scientific reviews suggest antioxidants may boost male fertility

by Katherine East

(NaturalNews) A recent review of studies done on infertility suggest that male
fertility may be improved by taking antioxidants.

A number of studies on male infertility were reviewed by researchers in New
Zealand and reported in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The review
focused on 34 controlled trials involving couples undergoing assisted
reproductive techniques such as invitro fertilisation and sperm injections.
Most men in the trials had low sperm counts or low sperm motility and were
classed as sub-fertile, those with below-average fertility who are still able
to father a child. The review found that those who took antioxidants had four
times greater chance to get their partners pregnant than sub-fertile men who
did not take the antioxidant supplements.

"Oral supplementation with antioxidants may go some way to improve a couple's
chance of conception," said lead researcher Marian Showell of New Zealand's
University of Auckland.

Approximately 1 in 20 men are sub-fertile and seminal oxidative stress is
thought to be a major contributing factor. The amount of sperm a man produces
is not the only determinant of fertility. A high percentage of the sperm must
be healthy and motive. However, sperm are easily damaged by naturally occurring
free radicals. The purpose of the review was to determine if taking
antioxidants could protect cells from oxidative stress by keeping damaging free
radicals at bay.

Some Of The Reviewed Study Data
964 couples took part in 15 studies. In the control groups (no antioxidants
taken), the 449 couples had 18 pregnancies (3%). There were 82 pregnancies in
the group of 515 couples who took antioxidant supplements (16%) . This
indicated that antioxidant use by the male partner significantly increased the
likelihood of conception

214 couples took part in another group of 3 separate studies. 20 live births
occurred where men took antioxidants. Men taking oral antioxidants had an
associated statistically significant increase in live birth rate when compared
with the men in the control group taking the placebo.

Unfortunately the included studies did not use the same types or dosage of
antioxidants, so the results are said to be inconclusive. These were considered
observational studies without the ability to establish clear cause and effect.
Further clinical trials would have to be done to confirm the link.

The findings reported in the Cochrane Database have come under fire from some
fertility specialists who have labeled them a 'scam'. Fertility doctor Sherman
Silber, the head of The Infertility Center of St. Louis, warned that trying
antioxidants as a step before seeking fertility treatments would likely hurt
rather than help, as the woman's eggs would only get older with the delay. He
also labeled the review as a publicity stunt by vitamin manufacturers.

Other Studies On Vitamin C and Sperm Motility

Vitamin C is probably one of the most widely known antioxidants and has been
the subject of numerous small studies to determine its effect on the motility
of sperm. One study done with 97 non-smoking men showed that higher antioxidant
consumption was associated with higher sperm numbers and motility. Semen
naturally contains vitamin C to scavenge free radicals but these defenses can
be overwhelmed. Increased levels of oxidative stress brought on by
environmental factors like high temperatures and pollution, lifestyle factors
like older age and poor diet, and health issues like infections and chronic
disease all affect sperm motility.

References

1. Kessopoulou E et al. A double-blind randomized placebo cross-over
controlled trial using the antioxidant vitamin E to treat reactive oxygen
species associated with male infertility. Fertil Steril 1995; 64: 825-31.

2. http://www.health24.com/news/Fertil...

3. http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/I...

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

5. Eskenazi B et al. Antioxidant intake is associated with semen quality in
healthy men. Hum Reprod. 2005 Apr;20(4):1006-12. Epub 2005 Jan 21.

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.