The role of antioxidant molecules in the treatment of male infertility and the preparation of a man for conception

Abstract

Empirical therapy of male infertility is used as a stand-alone type of treatment in idiopathic infertility, and in other situations can complement basic therapy. There are well-known pathogenetic methods of male infertility treatment applied in case of reproductive gland infection, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, ejaculation disorders. However, the prospects of empirical treatment of male infertility are not fully clear. Combined antioxidant drugs are very popular, which include a wide range of similar substances. However, their molecules significantly differ from each other in structure, chemical properties and set of biological functions, therefore, there is a number of questions that deserve separate discussion regarding their compatibility with each other. Antioxidants such as various water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, coenzyme Q10, zinc and carnitines are widely used in its composition to reduce sperm damage caused by oxidative stress. They are widely available and inexpensive compared to other methods of treatment. Although there are no results of large randomized controlled trials yet, there is some evidence that taking oral antioxidoidants improves the basic parameters of sperm and increases the frequency of childbirth. There are many antioxidant supplements in different dosage forms, with different compositions and modes of use. In this article, we have analyzed the effect of the main antioxidant substances used on semen parameters, the need for their combined use and the role of these substances in the body.

Keywords

• antioxidant protection
• male infertility
• oxidative stress
• therapy
• dna fragmentation
• sperm
• carnitine
• arginine
• coenzyme q10
• vitamin e
• selenium
• zinc
• carnosine