Effect of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) oral supplementation on changes of semen parameters, oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers and reproductive hormones in infertile men

Abstract

Background and Aim: Reduction in sperm motility is one of the main causes of male infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Carob supplementation on sperm parameters, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indices and sex hormones in the men with idiopathic infertility. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial which included 60 men with asthenospermia. The patients were assigned to intervention and placebo groups (n =30). The intervention group received 1500 mg Carob / day (three 500 mg capsules), and the placebo group received three placebo capsules / day for 12 weeks. The parameters of sperm, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde concentration, inflammatory markers and plasma sex hormones were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software and independent sample t-test was used to compare the mean values of changes between the two groups. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Differences in the changes in number, concentration and the percentage of motile sperms, total antioxidant capacity, concentration of MDA and plasma inflammatory markers were significant after the intervention (p0.05). Conclusion: Increased concentration and motility of the sperm and decreased oxidative stress and inflammatory factors were observed in the intervention group. Use of plants with antioxidant capacity can be one of the ways to cope with oxidative damage to sperm in this group of infertile men. Keywords: Carob, Asthenozoospermia, Oxidative stress, Inflammatory markers. Received: Jan 20, 2018 Accepted: May 22, 2018

Keywords

• carob
• asthenozoospermia
• oxidative stress
• inflammatory markers.