title: Myoinositol improves sperm parameters and serum reproductive hormones in patients with idiopathic infertility: a prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study.
abstract: Male infertility is a multifactorial disorder that affects a significant percentage of couples. Its etiology and pathogenesis remain elusive in about one-third of the cases; this is referred to as idiopathic infertility. Inositols mediate the sperm processes involved into oocyte fertilization, such as penetration of the ovum cumulus oophorus, binding with the zona pellucida and the acrosome reaction. The aim of this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of myoinositol (the most abundant form of inositols present in nature) treatment in men with idiopathic infertility. To accomplish this, we evaluated the effects of myoinositol on sperm parameters and reproductive hormones at baseline and after 3 months of treatment in men with idiopathic infertility. No adverse reaction was observed. Myoinositol significantly increased the percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, sperm concentration, and total count and progressive motility compared to placebo. In addition, myoinositol rebalanced serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and inhibin B concentrations. The clinical improvement of idiopathic infertile patients should encourage myoinositol use for the treatment of this disorder, even though its detailed mechanisms at the testicular level remain still unclear.
authors: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Calogero
authors: Dipartimento di Ostetricia Ginecologia e Medicina Interna, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Gullo
authors: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: La Vignera
authors: Section of Endocrinology, Andrology and Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Condorelli
authors: Reproductive Medicine Unit, Policlinico Universitario di Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Vaiarelli
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D007294:Inositol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; C422364:inhibin B; D007294:Inositol; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: acrosome reaction; follicle-stimulating hormone; idiopathic infertility; inhibin B