Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Oct 4;59(10):1769.
doi: 10.3390/medicina59101769.

Oxidative Stress and Male Infertility: The Protective Role of Antioxidants

Aris Kaltsas  1
Affiliations
Review

Oxidative Stress and Male Infertility: The Protective Role of Antioxidants

Aris Kaltsas. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Oxidative stress is a significant factor in male infertility, compromising sperm function and overall reproductive health. As male infertility garners increasing attention, effective therapeutic interventions become paramount. This review investigates the therapeutic role of antioxidants in addressing male infertility. A detailed examination was conducted on antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, B12, D, coenzyme Q10, zinc, folic acid, selenium, l-carnitine, l-arginine, inositols, and alpha-lipoic acid. This analysis examines the methodologies, outcomes, and constraints of current clinical studies. Antioxidants show notable potential in counteracting the negative effects of oxidative stress on sperm. Based on the evidence, these antioxidants, individually or synergistically, can enhance sperm health and reproductive outcomes. However, certain limitations in the studies call for careful interpretation. Antioxidants are integral in tackling male infertility attributed to oxidative stress. The current findings underscore their therapeutic value, yet there's a pressing need for deeper, comprehensive research. Future studies should focus on refining dosage guidelines, identifying potential side effects, and discerning the most efficacious antioxidant combinations for male infertility solutions.

Keywords: antioxidants; male infertility; oxidative stress.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Dual role of oxidative stress in male reproduction.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Imbalance between ROS levels and antioxidants: implications for sperm quality and male reproductive health.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Kumar N., Singh A.K. Trends of male factor infertility, an important cause of infertility: A review of literature. J. Hum. Reprod. Sci. 2015;8:191–196. doi: 10.4103/0974-1208.170370. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Schieber M., Chandel N.S. ROS function in redox signaling and oxidative stress. Curr. Biol. 2014;24:R453–R462. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.034. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Pizzino G., Irrera N., Cucinotta M., Pallio G., Mannino F., Arcoraci V., Squadrito F., Altavilla D., Bitto A. Oxidative Stress: Harms and Benefits for Human Health. Oxid. Med. Cell Longev. 2017;2017:8416763. doi: 10.1155/2017/8416763. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Castleton P.E., Deluao J.C., Sharkey D.J., McPherson N.O. Measuring Reactive Oxygen Species in Semen for Male Preconception Care: A Scientist Perspective. Antioxidants. 2022;11:264. doi: 10.3390/antiox11020264. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. O’Flaherty C. Reactive Oxygen Species and Male Fertility. Antioxidants. 2020;9:287. doi: 10.3390/antiox9040287. - DOI - PMC - PubMed