Reduction of the Incidence of Sperm DNA Fragmentation by Oral Antioxidant Treatment

• Published in: Journal of andrology Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 349 - 353
• Main Authors: Greco, Ermanno, Iacobelli, Marcello, Rienzi, Laura, Ubaldi, Filippo, Ferrero, Susanna, Tesarik, Jan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Am Soc Andrology 01-05-2005; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; American Society of Andrology
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Ascorbic Acid - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; DNA Fragmentation - drug effects; ejaculated spermatozoa; Ejaculation; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; in vivo treatment; Infertility, Male - drug therapy; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Sperm Count; Sperm DNA damage; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects; TUNEL assay; vitamin C; vitamin E; Vitamin E - therapeutic use; Spermatozoa; ejaculated spermatozoa; vitamin C; vitamin E; Germinal cell; Antioxidant; Male genital system; in vivo treatment; Sperm DNA damage; In vivo; Reproduction; Treatment; TUNEL assay
• ISSN: 0196-3635; 1939-4640
• DOI: 10.2164/jandrol.04146

Sperm DNA fragmentation is known to compromise male fertility. Previous findings have suggested the implication of oxidative stress in the etiology of this pathological condition. The present study was conducted to find out if the pathologically increased incidence of DNA fragmentation in ejaculated spermatozoa can be reduced by oral treatment with two antioxidants, vitamins C and E. Sixty‐four men with unexplained infertility and an elevated (≥15%) percentage of DNA‐fragmented spermatozoa in the ejaculate were randomized between an antioxidant treatment (1 g vitamin C and 1 g vitamin E daily for 2 months) group and a placebo group. Sperm DNA fragmentation was evaluated by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling assay before and after treatment. No differences in basic sperm parameters were found between the antioxidant treatment and the placebo group before or after treatment. However, the percentage of DNA‐fragmented spermatozoa was markedly reduced (P < .001) in the antioxidant treatment group after the treatment (9.1 ± 7.2) as compared with the pretreatment values (22.1 ± 7.7). No difference in the pretreatment and posttreatment incidence of sperm DNA fragmentation was observed in the placebo group. These data show that sperm DNA damage can be efficiently treated with oral antioxidants administered during a relatively short time period.