Endocrine Abstracts

Male infertility every year is becoming one of the main problems of the health system, which requires serious steps in coping this health and socioeconomic burden. Oxidative stress is emphasized as the main factor of idiopathic etiology resulting with the inability to conceive because of poor semen quality. Antioxidants have shown their beneficial effects in various studies conducted, resulting both in improving semen quality and higher chance of natural conception. Thus, the aim of this study is to verify the impact and effectiveness of the antioxidant formula both in oxidative stress status and semen parameters. A total of 211 infertile men were enrolled in the study after passing the inclusive criteria, 50 of them were used only for comparison while 161 were divided in two groups: interventional (n=80) and the placebo group (n=81). Standard semen analysis along with biochemical analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA), caspase-3 (cas-3) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were analyzed in two points: T₀ (before the antioxidant/placebo therapy) and T₆ (six months after antioxidant/placebo therapy). Mean ± SD and Wilcoxon signed ranks was used to asses changes in two points. After six months the interventional showed significant improvements in terms of sperm concentration (P=0,00006), motility (P<0,001) and morphology (P<0,001), while changes in the placebo group where not statistically significant (P=0,713, P=0,428 and P=0,606, respectively). In the group treated with antioxidants we had a reduction in MDA, Cas-3 levels (6,01 ± 0,83 to 3,25 ± 0,68 and 3,82 ± 0,53; P<0,001 respectively) and increase in TAC levels (45,53 ± 9,15 to 74,88 ± 12,63; P<0,001). While in the placebo group the mean MDA, Cas-3 and TAC levels had no statistically significant changes (6,49 ± 1,40 to 6,51 ± 1,45; P =0,65), (4,11 ± 0,68 to 4,12 ± 0,77; P =0,89) and (45,41 ± 7,78 to 44,67 ± 8,44; P =0,37), respectively. Looking at the cost-benefit aspect and rationale behind antioxidant therapy in infertile men, we strongly suggest their use before any other procedure.