The effect of antioxidant treatment on human spermatozoa and fertilization rate in an in vitro fertilization program.
OBJECTIVE
To study the possible influence of antioxidant treatment on human spermatozoa and the fertilization rate in an IVF program.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Serlin Maternity Hospital, and the Laboratory of Male Fertility, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.


METHODS
Fifteen fertile normospermic male volunteers who had low fertilization rates in their previous IVF cycles.


METHODS
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 200 mg daily by mouth for 3 months.


METHODS
Lipid peroxidation potential (amount of malondialdehyde [MDA]), quantitative ultramorphologic analysis of spermatozoa, and fertilization rate per cycle.


RESULTS
The high MDA levels significantly decreased from 12.6 +/- 9.4 nmol/10(8) spermatozoa to normal levels of 7.8 +/- 4.2 nmol/10(8) spermatozoa after 1 month of treatment. The fertilization rate per cycle increased significantly from 19.3 +/- 23.3 to 29.1 +/- 22.2 after 1 month of treatment. No additional effects on MDA levels and fertilization rate were observed after completion of treatment. With regard to the quantitative ultramorphologic analysis, none of the sperm cell subcellular organelles were affected significantly by vitamin E treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin E may improve the fertilization rate of fertile normospermic males with low fertilization rates after 1 month of treatment, possibly by reducing the lipid peroxidation potential, and with no change of the quantitative ultramorphologic analysis of subcellular organelles.
Geva
E
E
Serlin Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Bartoov
B
B
Zabludovsky
N
N
Lessing
J B
JB
Lerner-Geva
L
L
Amit
A
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D015388:Organelles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D008315:Malondialdehyde