Dietary Antioxidants in the Treatment of Male Infertility: Counteracting Oxidative Stress

Overview

Journal Biology (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biology

Date 2021 Apr 3

PMID 33804600

Citations 24

Authors

Elizabeth Torres-Arce

Barbara Vizmanos

Nancy Babio

Fabiola Marquez-Sandoval

Albert Salas-Huetos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Infertility affects about 15% of the population and male factors only are responsible for ~25-30% of cases of infertility. Currently, the etiology of suboptimal semen quality is poorly understood, and many environmental and genetic factors, including oxidative stress, have been implicated. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of free radicals, or reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the capacity of the body to counteract their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants. The purpose of this review, by employing the joint expertise of international researchers specialized in nutrition and male fertility areas, is to update the knowledge about the reproductive consequences of excessive ROS concentrations and oxidative stress on the semen quality and Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) clinical outcomes, to discuss the role of antioxidants in fertility outcomes, and finally to discuss why foods and dietary patterns are more innocuous long term solution for ameliorating oxidative stress and therefore semen quality results and ART fertility outcomes. Since this is a narrative review and not a systematic/meta-analysis, the summarized information in the present study should be considered cautiously.

Citing Articles

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Reliable Detection of Excessive Sperm Ros Production in Subfertile Patients: How Many Men with Oxidative Stress?.

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