title: Comparing the Effectiveness of Dietary Vitamin C and Exercise Interventions on Fertility Parameters in Normal Obese Men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparing the effectiveness of dietary vitamin C and weight loss exercises interventions for weight loss on semen characteristics in normal obese man.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total number of 200 men were randomly allocated into two groups based on body mass index, exercise and vitamin C groups. Also, 50 men with normal spermogram were placed in a control group. In exercise group, a 6 months intensive exercise program was designed under a coach's supervision to reduce the body weight. In vitamin C group, 1,000 mg of vitamin C were given every other day as supplement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weight loss increased the volume of semen in participants with 25-30 (P = .02) and more than 30 body mass index (P = .001). The increased concentration of sperm per mL of semen in body mass index (BMI) 25-30 group (P = .01) and more than 30 (P = .003) BMI was significant. Improving sperm motility after two hours in participants with more than 30 (P = .01) BMI was significant. In vitamin C group, the improvement of sperm concentration in participants who had less than 25 (P = .01), between 25 and 30 (P = .01), more than 30 (P = .02) BMI was significant. Sperm motility improved in all three groups (P = .001, P = .02 and P = .003, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight loss can significantly increase semen volume, its concentration, its mobility and percentage of normal morphology. Consuming vitamin C significantly improves sperm concentration and mobility, but the semen volume and the percentage of normal morphology will not change significantly.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahare
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rafiee
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Morowvat
authors.affiliation: Bagherian Industrial School, Ministry of Education and Training, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahimi-Ghalati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid