Antioxidant cosupplementation therapy with vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10 in patients with oligoasthenozoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
Overproduction of reactive oxygen species results in oxidative stress, a deleterious process that damages cell structure as well as lipids, proteins, and DNA. Oxidative stress plays a major role in various human diseases, such as oligoasthenozoospermia syndrome.


METHODS
We evaluated the effectiveness of antioxidant co-supplementation therapy using vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10 in men with oligoasthenozoospermia. Overall, 169 infertile men with oligoasthenozoospermia received antioxidant therapy with 80 mg/day vitamin C, 40 mg/day vitamin E, and 120 mg/day coenzyme Q10. We evaluated spermiogram parameters at baseline and at 3 and 6 months of follow-up.


RESULTS
Significant improvements were evident in sperm concentration and motility following coenzyme Q10 therapy. Treatment resulted in 48 (28.4%) partner pregnancies, of which 16 (9.5%) were spontaneous. Significant improvements in sperm cell concentration and sperm motility were observed after 3 and 6 months of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10 supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in certain semen parameters. However, further studies are needed to empirically determine the effect of supplementation on pregnancy rate.
Department of Urology, Dokkyo Medical University, Koshigaya Hospital. ykobori@dokkyomed.ac.jp.
Yoshitomo
Y
Kobori
Shigeyuki
S
Ota
Ryo
R
Sato
Hiroshi
H
Yagi
Shigehiro
S
Soh
Gaku
G
Arai
Hiroshi
H
Okada
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014451:Ubiquinone; D014810:Vitamin E; C024989:coenzyme Q10; D001205:Ascorbic Acid