Antioxidants for male subfertility

3 min

Background

It has been estimated that between 30% and 80% of male subfertility cases could be due to the damaging effects of oxidative stress on sperm. Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species (ROS) overcome the semen’s natural antioxidant defences and cause cellular damage.

Increased ROS levels in recent years are thought to be due to environmental factors such as electromagnetic radiation, lifestyle factors such as obesity and poor diet and other factors such as infection.

It is thought that supplementation with antioxidants may improve sperm quality by reducing oxidative stress. 

Aim

This Cochrane review aimed to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation with antioxidants for male partners of couples undergoing assisted reproduction techniques (ART).

Methods

Results

Conclusion

The evidence suggests that antioxidant supplementation in subfertile males may improve the outcomes of live birth and pregnancy rate for subfertile couples undergoing ART cycles. Further head to head comparisons are necessary to identify the superiority of one antioxidant over another and to determine appropriate dosing.

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