Oxidative stress can contribute to impairment in spermatogenesis leading to male-factor infertility. The effectiveness of various antioxidants (such as carnitine, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, carotenoids, glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, zinc, folic acid, and coenzyme Q10) is variable with respect to improving semen parameters and pregnancy rates. A recent Cochrane review determined that men taking antioxidants had a statistically significant increase in both live birth rates and pregnancy rates. For those undergoing assisted reproduction, the odds ratio that antioxidant use would improve pregnancy rates was 4.18, with a 4.85-fold improvement in live birth rate also noted. Further investigation with randomized, controlled clinical trials is needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in the medical management and treatment of male infertility.
antioxidant supplementation male infertility semen parameters, nutrient supplementation improving male fertility sperm quality, oxidative stress spermatogenesis antioxidant treatment review, carnitine vitamin C vitamin E selenium male fertility, coenzyme Q10 zinc folic acid sperm improvement, antioxidants assisted reproduction pregnancy rates live birth, Cochrane review antioxidants male infertility outcomes, N-acetylcysteine glutathione male reproductive health, oxidative stress sperm DNA damage antioxidant therapy, Mora-Esteves Shin nutrient supplementation male fertility
PMID 23775385 23775385 DOI 10.1055/s-0033-1345277 10.1055/s-0033-1345277
Cite this article
Mora-Esteves, C., & Shin, D. (2013). Nutrient supplementation: improving male fertility fourfold. Seminars in reproductive medicine, 31(4), 293-300. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1345277
Mora-Esteves C, Shin D. Nutrient supplementation: improving male fertility fourfold. Semin Reprod Med. 2013;31(4):293-300. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1345277
Mora-Esteves, Cesar, and David Shin. "Nutrient supplementation: improving male fertility fourfold." Seminars in reproductive medicine, vol. 31, no. 4, 2013, pp. 293-300.
This review article summarizes the epidemiological findings published between 2011 and 2016 concerning bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, dioxins, pesticides, air pollution, fracking chemicals, triclosan, and parabens and fertility parameters in men (i.e., semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm morphology) as well as fertility parameters in women (i.e., cyclicity, fertility treatment outcomes), pregnancy outcomes (i.e., preterm birth,miscarriage), and reproductive disorders (i.e., polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids). Overall, this review indicates that several environmental toxicants are significantly associated with reduced fertility parameters in men and women as well as several reproductive disorders in women. Although many studies reported that the selected exposures are associated with adverse fertility outcomes, several studies reported null associations. Thus, future studies are still needed to better elucidate the associations and potential mechanisms between these environmental chemicals and fertility outcomes in men and women.
Novak C et al., 2013·Seminars in Reproductive Medicine
Health disparities are observed in all fields of medicine and reproductive health is not immune to this phenomenon. The incidence of women using infertility treatments to conceive is increasing. Women undergoing assisted reproduction appear to be at increased risk of adverse outcomes, and minority women tend to be at even greater risk. This article examines several adverse obstetrical outcomes including preterm birth, congenital malformations, and preeclampsia among women receiving infertility treatments compared with those who conceive spontaneously. It will further examine societal costs associated with these procedures.
Skora D et al., 2012·Seminars in Reproductive Medicine
Since the advent of ART, much research has focused on the potential adverse for resultant harm. Prematurity, low birth-weight, PIH, congenital malformations, and CP are closely tied to multiple gestation. With the increase in elective single embryo transfer, there will be a reduction in adversity related to multiple birth. It is understood that underlying causes of infertility, including advanced maternal age, PCOS, thyroid disease, and uterine fibroids, predispose to adverse outcomes. However, imprinting abnormalities do not appear to stem from multiple births, and thus the need to consider the association between fertility treatment and methylation disorders remains essential. These, as well as risks of multi-fetal gestation, must be discussed with patients when considering using assisted reproduction.
Progesterone is essential for endometrial receptivity and successful establishment of pregnancy. Either an insufficient progesterone concentration or an insufficient response to progesterone, therefore can lead to infertility and pregnancy loss. Assessment of the role that either progesterone insufficiency or inadequate progesterone response plays in human reproductive failure has been difficult to assess because serum progesterone concentrations fluctuate markedly, limiting the ability to characterize sufficiency of progesterone, and there are no highly reliable markers of endometrial function available. Recent evidence demonstrates exquisite sensitivity of normal endometrium to very low levels of progesterone stimulation, suggesting that progesterone insufficiency should not be a common cause of reproductive failure. Further evidence suggests that women with endometriosis, and possibly polycystic ovarian syndrome, have an altered progesterone response, which may explain some of the clinical features of these disorders and supports the hypothesis that progesterone resistance underlies some cases of human reproductive failure.