Oral anti-oxidant use for male partners of couples undergoing fertility treatments

Abstract

Introduction:

Between 30%-80% of male subfertility cases are considered to be due to the damaging effects of oxidative stress on sperm. Oral supplementation with antioxidants may improve sperm quality by reducing oxidative stress. This Cochrane review aimed to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation with antioxidants on male partners of couples attending a fertility clinic.

Materials and Methods:

All RCTs of oral antioxidant supplements in men were searched in the following sources: the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Register, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, PSYCINFO and AMED databases (from their inception until January 2010), trial registers, unpublished literature, reference lists and experts in the field. RCTs comparing any type or dose of antioxidant (single or combined) versus placebo, no treatment or another antioxidant that were taken by the male partner of a couple seeking fertility assistance were included. The outcomes were live birth, pregnancy, miscarriage, or spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, level of sperm DNA damage, sperm motility, sperm concentration and adverse effects.

We performed statistical meta-analyses in accordance with the guidelines developed by The Cochrane Collaboration for the effect of antioxidant/s versus placebo per couple randomised.

Results:

Fifty trials were considered and 32 met the inclusion criteria. 2696 couples in total.