title: Comparative Study of the Effects of Tamoxifen Citrate and Folate on Semen Quality of the Infertile Male with Semen Abnormality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of treatment with a combination of the antiestrogen Tamoxifen citrate and Folate on semen quality of the infertile male with semen abnormality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized controlled trial study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2013 and October 2014, 68 infertile male with semen abnormality were asked to join the present study. Informed consents were signed; all patients were divided into four groups, given placebo (control), Tamoxifen citrate 20 mg/day, Folate 5 mg/day, and Tamoxifen citrate plus Folate for continuous three months. The result of treatments i.e., semen parameters, hyaluronan binding assay, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and DNA damage test were evaluated at baseline, at the end of drugs treatment (3-month), and at 3-month after discontinuation of treatment (6-month).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tamoxifen alone caused a significant increase in sperm concentration, while Tamoxifen plus Folate significantly increased both sperm concentration and sperm motility at 3-month after treatment. Folate alone and Tamoxifen plus Folate significantly decreased DNA tail length at 3-month and at 3- and 6-month after treatment, whereas Tamoxifen alone caused no significant change in DNA tail length. Sperm DNA integrity was improved as seen by decrease in the length ofDNA tail.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that Folate in combination with Tamoxifen citrate could improve sperm quality including semen parameters and sperm DNA integrity.
authors.forename: Arthit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boonyarangkul
authors.forename: Nipattha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vinayanuvattikhun
authors.forename: Charoenchai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiamchanya
authors.forename: Pachara
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Visutakul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D013629:Tamoxifen; D005492:Folic Acid