title: Coenzyme Q10 improves seminal oxidative defense but does not affect on semen parameters in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: a randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several lines of evidence show the implication of oxidative stress in the etiology of male infertility. Recently, the role of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the prevention and treatment of disease has been intensively probed. However, definitive efficacy studies in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) have not been completed yet.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on semen parameters in idiopathic OAT (iOAT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial was carried out. A total of 47 infertile men with iOAT were randomly assigned to receive 200 mg CoQ10 daily or placebo during a 12- week period. Semen parameters were determined using microscopic evaluation according to World Health Organization guidelines. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring the concentration of plasma malondialdehyde. We evaluated the total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma. To compare variables between and within the 2 groups we used independent t-test and Paired t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The trial showed non-significant changes in semen parameters of CoQ10 group. However, concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in serum of treated groups compared with the control. Furthermore, total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma significantly increased in the CoQ10 group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results provide further evidence suggesting that CoQ10 supplementation is associated with alleviating oxidative stress, although it does not show any significant effects on sperm concentration, motility and morphology. It may be suggested that CoQ10 could be taken as an adjunct therapy in cases of OAT. Further studies are needed to draw a final conclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadjarzadeh
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amirjannati
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vafa
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Motevalian
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Gohari
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Akhondi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yavari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shidfar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010919:Placebos; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D014815:Vitamins; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10