Effects of antioxidant co-supplementation therapy on spermatogenesis dysfunction in relation to the basal oxidation-reduction potential levels in spermatozoa: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: In this pilot study, the authors compared the effects of antioxidant co-supplementation therapy and methylcobalamin therapy in patients with impaired semen quality.

METHODS

Eighty-four subjects who visited male infertility clinics and showed abnormal semen test results were randomly subjected to one of the two therapies: antioxidant co-supplementation therapy with vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, and flaxseed oil or methylcobalamin therapy. The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were used as indicators of oxidative stress levels in semen. Semen analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

The authors obtained results from 67 patients who had completed 3 months of treatment. Neither antioxidant co-supplementation therapy nor methylcobalamin therapy changed the semen parameters significantly (except for the sperm concentration, which was increased by the latter therapy). When the pre-treatment ORP value in semen was higher than the cutoff value, both therapies significantly increased the sperm concentration. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine level did not yield any meaningful predictive value with regard to increased sperm concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Both antioxidant co-supplementation therapy and methylcobalamin therapy increased the sperm concentration in patients with impaired semen quality when the basal ORP levels in their semen were elevated.