title: The effects of tomato juice on male infertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the effects of tomato juice consumption on seminal plasma lycopene levels and sperm parameters in infertile men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were male infertility patients with poor sperm concentration (<20×10 6/mL) and/or motility (<50%). Following a fourweek observation period, subjects were randomly assigned among three groups: a tomato juice group, an antioxidant group, and a control group. The subjects in the tomato juice group and the antioxidant group daily consumed one can of tomato juice (containing 30 mg of lycopene) or one antioxidant capsule (containing vitamin C 600 mg, vitamin E 200 mg, and glutathione 300 mg), respectively, for 12 weeks (feeding period). Seminal plasma lycopene levels and sperm parameters were measured every 6 weeks during the feeding period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four patients completed the study (control group: 12, antioxidant group: 15, tomato juice group: 17). In the tomato juice group, plasma lycopene level was significantly increased at the 12th week of the feeding period. Moreover, a decrease in seminal plasma white blood cells and an increase in sperm motility in the tomato juice group were statistically significant at the 12th and 6th weeks, respectively, compared to the control group. In the antioxidant capsule group, no significant improvement was observed in semen parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, regular consumption of tomato juice seems to improve sperm motility in infertile patients. This is the first report to show that commercially available food, such as tomato juice, might be beneficial for male infertility.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Kagome, Nasushiobara, Japan. Email: Yu_Yamamoto@kagome.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Kagome, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.affiliation: Center for Information, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mieno
authors.affiliation: Center for Infertility and IVF, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Kuniko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Furui
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Kagome, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumitsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Kagome, Nasushiobara, Japan.|Department of Food and Nutrition, Facility of Contemporary Human Life Science, Tezukayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inakuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Kagome, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suganuma
authors.affiliation: Center for Infertility and IVF, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Nasushiobara, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001628:Beverages; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000077276:Lycopene