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Erschienen in:

01.12.2024 | Invited Review

The role of oral antioxidants in the improvement of sperm parameters in infertile men

verfasst von: Georgios Kallinikas, James N. Tsoporis, Georgios Haronis, Anastasios Zarkadas, Dimitrios Bozios, Vassilios Konstantinopoulos, Diomidis Kozyrakis, Despoina Mitiliniou, Evangelos Rodinos, Athanasios Filios, Panagiotis Filios, Gerasimos Vlassopoulos

Erschienen in: World Journal of Urology | Ausgabe 1/2024

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Abstract

Purpose

A variety of pathologic conditions may increase oxidative stress in semen resulting in structural modifications to spermozoa’s plasma membrane that interfere with sperm motility, morphology, and count. Antioxidants are currently being marketed to treat male infertility. In semen, antioxidants may decrease oxidative stress and potentially improve sperm parameters. In this narrative, mini-review we evaluated the effectiveness of antioxidants in infertility.

Methods

This mini-review of the current literature has been carried out through searching of the PubMed and Google scholar databases.

Results and conclusions

The literature review suggests that there is evidence that oral antioxidants such as selenium, carnitine, zinc, coenzymeQ10, vitamins E and C, etc. alone or in combinations, improve sperm count, motility, morphology as well as pregnancy rates in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia. Unfortunately, most of these studies are poorly designed, limited by sample size, varying in dosage, differing in primary end points, and most notably lacking live birth data. Importantly, large randomized, well-designed, placebo-controlled trials are needed.

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Titel: The role of oral antioxidants in the improvement of sperm parameters in infertile men
verfasst von: Georgios Kallinikas
James N. Tsoporis
Georgios Haronis
Anastasios Zarkadas
Dimitrios Bozios
Vassilios Konstantinopoulos
Diomidis Kozyrakis
Despoina Mitiliniou
Evangelos Rodinos
Athanasios Filios
Panagiotis Filios
Gerasimos Vlassopoulos
Publikationsdatum: 01.12.2024
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in: World Journal of Urology / Ausgabe 1/2024
Print ISSN: 0724-4983
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-8726
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-023-04766-5

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The role of oral antioxidants in the improvement of sperm parameters in infertile men