title: Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial examining the effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplement on the spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress in infertile men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effects of supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on the spermatogram and seminal oxidative stress biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertile men.
  
  
  METHODS
  ALA (600 mg) or placebo for 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen analysis, anthropometric, dietary, and physical activity assessments, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of study, the total sperm count, sperm concentration, and motility in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group. In the ALA group, the total sperm count, sperm concentration, and motility levels were also significantly increased at the end of study compared with baseline values. However, there were no significant differences in ejaculate volume, normal morphology percentage, and live sperm between groups. ALA supplementation also resulted in a significant improvement in seminal levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde compared with the placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results, medical therapy of asthenoteratospermia with ALA supplement could improve quality of semen parameters. However, further investigation is suggested in this regard.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IRCT2013111010181N3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Paramedical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein Khadem
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Haghighian
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Electronic address: haidari58@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haidari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mohammadi-Asl
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dadfar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000379:methods; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D008063:Thioctic Acid
keywords: Alpha-lipoic acid; asthenospermia; infertile men; oxidative stress; spermatogram