摘要
Oxidative stress is one of the main mechanisms responsible for male infertility.Various conditions such as varicocele,obesity,advanced age,and lifestyle can lead to an increase in reactive oxygen species,causing an oxidative imbalance in the reproductiveenvironment.Spermatozoa are sensitive to reactive oxygen species and require energy to carry out their main function of fertilizingthe egg.Excessive reactive oxygen species can affect sperm metabolism,leading to immobility,impaired acrosome reaction,and celldeath,thereby impairing reproductive success.This double-blind randomized study evaluated the effect of supplementation withL-carnitine,acetyl-L-carnitine,vitamins,and other nutrients on semen quality in 104 infertile patients with or without varicocele,while also investigating the impact of factors such as obesity and advanced age on treatment.Sperm concentration significantlyincreased in the supplemented group compared to the placebo group(P=0.0186).Total sperm count also significantly increasedin the supplemented group(P=0.0117),as did sperm motility(P=0.0120).The treatment had a positive effect on patients upto 35 years of age in terms of sperm concentration(P=0.0352),while a body mass index(BMI)above 25 kg m^(−2) had a negativeeffect on sperm concentration(P=0.0110).Results were not showing a net benefit in stratifying patients in accordance withtheir BMI since sperm quality increase was not affected by this parameter.In conclusion,antioxidant supplementation may bebeneficial for infertile patients and has a more positive effect on younger patients with a normal weight.
