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PURPOSE: Male infertility is a growing but poorly understood condition, largely evaluated through sperm parameters. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in idiopathic cases, with 30%-80% of patients showing elevated reactive oxygen species levels in seminal plasma. Antioxidants are increasingly used in reproductive medicine, but their effectiveness may be limited by the lack of prior assessment in patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a Tetraselmis chuii-derived ingredient, with a high superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (TSOD), in improving sperm quality parameters, including sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), and static oxidation-reduction potential (sORP).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, a total of 80 males with idiopathic infertility were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either TSOD (n=40) or placebo (n=40) at 250 mg/d for three months. Blood and semen samples were collected at baseline and post-treatment to assess hormonal profiles, semen parameters, SDF, and sORP. Additionally, socio-demographic data and reproductive outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

After three months of supplementation, the TSOD group exhibited a significant increase in serum levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone, resulting in improved sperm concentration and progressive motility. A significant reduction in both total and double-strand SDF was also observed exclusively in the TSOD group, particularly among males with initially pathological sORP values. Following a 3-month wash-out period, seminal parameters tended to return toward baseline values, while serum hormonal levels and SDF remained relatively stable. Notably, the improvements in semen quality were translated into superior reproductive outcomes, as the TSOD group achieved significantly higher live birth rates compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

TSOD supplementation demonstrates clinical efficacy in improving sperm quality parameters and reproductive outcomes in males with oxidative stress-related idiopathic infertility. However, its use should be preceded by redox status assessment to identify patients most likely to benefit.