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Effect of vitamin E on Semen Quality Parameters: A Meta-Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Wang, R, Wang, S, Song, Y, Zhou, H, Pan, Y, Liu, L, Niu, S, Liu, X
Urology journal. 2022;19(5):343-351
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The incidence of male infertility is increasing year by year. The mechanism of male infertility is complex. One of the important causes of male infertility is the decline in semen quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral vitamin E in improving semen quality. This study is a meta-analysis of eight articles with a total of 459 patients, including 238 cases in the experimental group and 221 cases in the control group. Results show that oral vitamin E treatment could significantly increase the total sperm count and reduce the volume of semen. It was further found that oral vitamin E treatment for up to 6 months could improve the forward motility of sperm but not for 3 months. Authors conclude that vitamin E could increase the total sperm count and reduce the volume of semen in male infertility patients.
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the effectiveness of vitamin E in male infertility, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. MATERIALS AND METHODS The retrieval time was from January 1947 to May 2021, without language restriction. Stata 12.0 was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS A total of 8 randomized controlled trials involving 459 patients were included. The results showed that after vitamin E treatment, semen volume was reduced (95% CI: - 0.55 to - 0.06, SMD = - 0.30, p = 0.015), total sperm count was increased (95% CI: 0.02-0.45, SMD = 0.23, p = 0.035), and the differences were statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences in increasing sperm concentration (95% CI: -0.21-0.29, SMD = 0.04, p = 0.769), total sperm motility (95% CI: -0.01-0.42, SMD = 0.20, p = 0.061) or sperm forward motility rate (95% CI: -0.06-0.65, SMD = 0.29, p = 0.106). Subgroup analysis showed that vitamin E treatment for six months could improve sperm forward motility (95% CI: 0.46-1.14, SMD = 0.80, p <0.001). CONCLUSION Vitamin E could increase the total sperm count and reduce the volume of semen in male infertility patients, and long-term treatment could improve the forward motility rate of sperm. The decrease of semen volume may be the result of different abstinence time before and after the test.
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The impact of nutrition and lifestyle on male fertility.
Benatta, M, Kettache, R, Buchholz, N, Trinchieri, A
Archivio italiano di urologia, andrologia : organo ufficiale [di] Societa italiana di ecografia urologica e nefrologica. 2020;92(2)
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The impact of environmental, lifestyle and nutritional factors on unexplained male fertility has long been acknowledged. Yet, little research had been dedicated to the topic, despite declining semen quality having become a worldwide phenomena. Available studies have yielded limited, and at times conflicting, evidence. Hence this literature review sought to capture the current knowledge around unexplained male infertility and environmental, lifestyle, diet and nutrients factors. Summarized is the evidence from 69 studies, including population observations and clinical trials. The collected outcomes showed that a Western-type diet, rich in red and processed meats, refined grains, high-energy drinks and sweets, trans and saturated fats was associated with poor semen quality. Whereby higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, omega-3 and poultry showed beneficial effects. However, as only selected groups were examined, more research is needed to project such findings onto the wider population. The reviewed evidence also included alcohol consumption, which showed high alcohol intake closely correlated to declining sperm concentrations. Whilst the verdict on caffeine consumption and the impact on sperm quality was inconclusive. In addition, several interventional studies evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation on various parameters of semen, where coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, vitamin E, antioxidants, combined nutrient formulations and herbal blends all had positive outcomes. The review on zinc and folic acid supplementation yielded mixed results. This brief recap of the current evidence on environmental, lifestyle and nutritional influences on male infertility summarises the dietary foundations for the support of unexplained male infertility.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Male unexplained infertility has long been suspected to result from environmental, lifestyle and nutritional factors. However, the literature on the subject is still scarce, and clinical studies providing robust evidence are even scarcer. In addition, some similar studies come to different conclusions. Dietary pattern can influence spermatogenesis by its content of fatty acids and antioxidants. Yet, in an age of industrialized mass food production, human bodies become more exposed to the ingestion of xenobiotics, as well as chemicals used for production, preservation, transportation and taste enhancement of foods. We attempted in this paper to collect the available evidence to date on the effect of nutritional components on male fertility. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic search of the relevant literature published in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Database was conducted. Literature was evaluated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa- Scale. RESULTS Epidemiological observations are concordant in demonstrating an association of low-quality sperm parameters with higher intake of red meat, processed and organ meat and fullfat dairy. On the contrary, better semen parameters were observed in subjects consuming a healthy diet, rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and fish. Evidences of the negative impact on male fertility of by-products of water disinfection, accumulation in food chain of persistent organochlorine pollutants, pesticides, phthalates from food and water containers and hormones used in breeding cattle have been reported. Clinical trials of the effects of micronutrients on semen parameters and outcomes of assisted fertilization are encouraging, although optimal modality of treatment should be established. CONCLUSIONS Although quality of evidence should be ameliorated, it emerges that environmental factors can influence male fertility. Some nutrients may enhance fertility whereas others will worsen it. With diagnostic analysis on a molecular or even sub-molecular level, new interactions with micronutrients or molecular components of our daily ingested foods and leisure drugs may lead to a better understanding of so far suspected but as yet unexplained effects on male spermatogenesis and fertility.