Effects of oral antioxidant treatment upon the dynamics of human sperm DNA fragmentation and subpopulations of sperm with highly degraded DNA

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of oral antioxidant treatment (1500mg of l-Carnitine; 60mg of vitamin C; 20mg of coenzyme Q10; 10mg of vitamin E; 10mg of zinc; 200μg of vitamin B9; 50μg of selenium; 1μg of vitamin B12) during a time period of 3months upon the dynamics of sperm DNA fragmentation following varying periods of sperm storage (0h, 2h, 6h, 8h and 24h) at 37°C in a cohort of 20 infertile patients diagnosed with asthenoteratozoospermia. A secondary objective was to use the sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD) to study antioxidant effects upon a specific subpopulation of highly DNA degraded sperm (DDS). Semen parameters and pregnancy rate (PR) were also determined. Results showed a significant improvement of DNA integrity at all incubation points (P<0.01). The proportion of DDS was also significantly reduced (P<0.05). Semen analysis data showed a significant increase in concentration, motility, vitality and morphology parameters. Our results suggest that antioxidant treatment improves sperm quality not only in terms of key seminal parameters and basal DNA damage, but also helps to maintain DNA integrity. Prior administration of antioxidants could therefore promote better outcomes following assisted reproductive techniques.