Effects of Different Antioxidants on Sperm Parameters in Infertile Males
Infertility is one of the most serious social problems facing all communities. The aim of this randomized controlled study is to assess the effect of certain antioxidants on the semen parameters. 105 infertile males aged between 20 and 40 years with oligoasthenoteratospermia from the Infertility Clinic in Shatby University Hospital were subjected to routine investigations, Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) and scrotal ultrasonography. They were allocated to 3 groups (35 males each) first group received vitamin C 1000 mg and zinc 20 mg, second group received Acetyl cysteine 200 mg and selenium 100 mg, and third group received vitamin E 1000 mg and folic acid 400 mg, once daily for 12 weeks. Sperm concentration among the three studied groups before and after treatment was not statistically significantly different (p=0.682, 0.500; respectively) Sperm motility increased after treatment in the three studied groups (p=0.000) Normal forms of sperms increased after treatment when compared with before treatment in the three studied groups (p=0.000) Combination of oral antioxidant therapy is important for the improvement of one or more of sperm parameters in infertile male with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. This study suggests that N AcetyleCysteine and selenium are the appropriate antioxidant combination but future studies should be done on wider scale of antioxidants to choose the best to serve humanity. Introduction Infertility is defined as inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. (1) Male factor infertility constitutes about half of all cases of infertility. (2) There are many causes of male infertility which may be caused by smoking, urinary tract infection, exposure to radiation, genital tract infection and oxidative stress. (3) Oxidative stress is one of the most important factors contributing to poor quality of semen which occurs when the production of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) exceeds the natural antioxidant defense in the body. (4) Leucocytes (particularly neutrophils and macrophages) and Immature spermatozoa are the two main sources of ROS. (5) ROS generated from Spermatozoa play an important role in the process of sperm capacitation, so maintenance of suitable level of ROS is essential for adequate sperm function while excessive ROS impairs sperm motility and alter sperm morphology. (6) www.jmscr.igmpublication.org Impact Factor (SJIF) 6.379 Index Copernicus Value: 71.58 ISSN (e) 2347 176x ISSN (p) 2455 0450 DOI: https:/dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i2.117