This study aimed to investigate the effects of tomato juice consumption on seminal plasma lycopene levels and sperm parameters in infertile men.
METHODS AND
Study Design
Subjects were male infertility patients with poor sperm concentration (<20×10 6/mL) and/or motility (<50%). Following a fourweek observation period, subjects were randomly assigned among three groups: a tomato juice group, an antioxidant group, and a control group. The subjects in the tomato juice group and the antioxidant group daily consumed one can of tomato juice (containing 30 mg of lycopene) or one antioxidant capsule (containing vitamin C 600 mg, vitamin E 200 mg, and glutathione 300 mg), respectively, for 12 weeks (feeding period). Seminal plasma lycopene levels and sperm parameters were measured every 6 weeks during the feeding period.
Results
Forty-four patients completed the study (control group: 12, antioxidant group: 15, tomato juice group: 17). In the tomato juice group, plasma lycopene level was significantly increased at the 12th week of the feeding period. Moreover, a decrease in seminal plasma white blood cells and an increase in sperm motility in the tomato juice group were statistically significant at the 12th and 6th weeks, respectively, compared to the control group. In the antioxidant capsule group, no significant improvement was observed in semen parameters.
Conclusions
In conclusion, regular consumption of tomato juice seems to improve sperm motility in infertile patients. This is the first report to show that commercially available food, such as tomato juice, might be beneficial for male infertility.
tomato juice lycopene male infertility sperm motility, lycopene supplementation sperm parameters infertile men, antioxidant treatment male infertility randomized trial, tomato juice seminal plasma lycopene levels, dietary intervention male subfertility sperm quality, lycopene vs vitamin C vitamin E sperm motility, nutritional supplementation male factor infertility, seminal white blood cells lycopene reduction, Yamamoto Iwamoto tomato juice male infertility 2017, functional food male reproductive health sperm improvement
PMID 28049263 28049263 DOI 10.6133/apjcn.102015.17 10.6133/apjcn.102015.17
Cite this article
Yamamoto, Y., Aizawa, K., Mieno, M., Karamatsu, M., Hirano, Y., Furui, K., Miyashita, T., Yamazaki, K., Inakuma, T., Sato, I., Suganuma, H., & Iwamoto, T. (2017). The effects of tomato juice on male infertility. Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, 26(1), 65-71. https://doi.org/10.6133/apjcn.102015.17
Yamamoto Y, Aizawa K, Mieno M, Karamatsu M, Hirano Y, Furui K, et al. The effects of tomato juice on male infertility. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2017;26(1):65-71. doi:10.6133/apjcn.102015.17
Yamamoto, Yu, et al. "The effects of tomato juice on male infertility." Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, vol. 26, no. 1, 2017, pp. 65-71.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of myo-inositol supplementation on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) rates and body water distribution in overweight non-obese women. 223 overweight non-obese women pregnant were randomly assigned to the treatment group (2 g of myo-inositol plus 200 µg of folic acid) or to the placebo one (200 µg of folic acid). The treatment lasted until three weeks after delivery. A tetrapolar impedance analyser was used to study body composition. The incidence of GDM was significantly reduced in the myo-inositol group compared with the placebo group. There was a significant increase in TBW, ECW and ICW values in the placebo group compared to the myo-inositol group. We have recorded a significant reduction in the overall incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension in the myo-inositol group compared with the placebo group. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of myo-inositol supplementation in preventing GDM in overweight non-obese pregnant women.
InfertilityThyroid Autoimmunity TreatmentThyroid AntibodiesRandomized Controlled Trial
Open Access
Thyroid autoantibodies, specifically thyroid peroxidase antibodies, have been associated with miscarriage and pre-term birth in women with a normal thyroid function. Small randomised controlled trials have found that treatment with levothyroxine may reduce such adverse outcomes in pregnancy. The Thyroid AntiBodies and LEvoThyroxine (TABLET) trial was conducted to explore the effects of levothyroxine in euthyroid women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies. This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study conducted in 49 hospitals across the UK between 2011 and 2016. Euthyroid women who tested positive for thyroid peroxidase antibodies, were aged between 16 and 41 years and were trying to conceive either naturally or through assisted conception were eligible. Participants were randomised to levothyroxine at a dose of 50 mcg daily or placebo. The primary outcome was live birth at >= 34 completed weeks of gestation. Of the 19,556 women screened, 1420 were eligible and 952 were randomised. The live birth rate was 37% in the levothyroxine group and 38% in the placebo group (relative risk 0.97, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.14; p = 0.74). Levothyroxine therapy in a dose of 50 mcg per day does not improve live birth rate in euthyroid women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies.
PregnancyModifiable Risk FactorsDietary ExposuresRandomized Controlled Trial
Open Access
Purdue‐Smithe A et al., 2019·Current Developments in Nutrition
The association between caffeine and pregnancy loss remains controversial due to limitations of prior studies such as relying on self-reported intake only, exposure measurement after clinical confirmation of pregnancy, and potential time-varying confounding by nausea/vomiting and lifestyle factors, which may be affected by prior caffeine exposure. Thus, our aim was to evaluate associations of preconception and early pregnancy serum caffeine, paraxanthine, and theobromine, self-reported intake of caffeinated beverages, and risk of pregnancy loss among 1228 reproductive-age women attempting pregnancy in the EAGeR trial during 2007–2011. We estimated HRs and 95% CIs for any pregnancy loss, hCG loss (prior to ultrasound confirmation), and clinical loss (after ultrasound confirmation) according to caffeinated beverage intake and caffeine biomarkers measured at preconception and the 8(th) week of gestation using weighted adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. At preconception, 67%, 28%, and 9% of women reported any intake of caffeinated sodas, coffee, and tea, respectively. Preconception total caffeinated beverage intake of ≥3 vs. 0 cups/day was associated with 85% (95% CI: 1.18, 2.94) higher risk of any pregnancy loss, driven primarily by associations for hCG loss (HR: 2.88 (95% CI: 1.20, 6.91)). Caffeinated soda intake was associated with hCG loss (≥2 vs. 0.2 vs. ≤0.2 ng/mL) at preconception was strongly associated with hCG loss (HR: 4.51 (95% CI: 1.36, 14.91)). Serum caffeine, paraxanthine, and theobromine measured at the 8th week of gestation were not associated with risk of loss. Collectively, these data suggest that caffeine intake prior to pregnancy may increase risk of pregnancy loss, particularly in early gestation. Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD.
Body LiteracyFertility Knowledge InterventionsYoung Adult AwarenessRandomized Controlled Trial
Conceição C et al., 2017·Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care
Recent evidence has shown that young adults have poor knowledge about reproductive health and fertility, and that interventions are needed to increase fertility awareness. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a brief video in increasing knowledge about fertility and infertility in young adults. We carried out a two-arm, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial with a pre-test/post-test design (NCT02607761, ClinicalTrials.gov). The sample was composed of 173 undergraduates who completed a self-report questionnaire. Participants were randomly assigned to exposure or no exposure to an educational video about reproductive health and infertility (intervention group, n = 89; control group, n = 84). At baseline, participants revealed poor knowledge of infertility risk factors and fertility issues, and average knowledge of the definition of infertility. Interaction effects between group and time were found for all variables targeted in the video. Participants in the intervention group significantly increased their knowledge of fertility issues, infertility risk factors and the definition of infertility. No significant differences in post-test knowledge were observed in the control group, except for the age at which there is a marked decrease in female fertility. A short video intervention is effective in increasing short-term knowledge about reproductive health and infertility. If future research using longer intervals corroborates our findings, video intervention could be a useful tool in public health prevention campaigns.